The Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) official account also changed its public bio description to Fact checking Labour from CCHQ as Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn went head-to-head on ITV. The Tory HQ presented itself as an Independant fact checker and then spammed its Twitter timeline with pro-conservative and anti-Labour tweets which appeared under the Twitter name factcheckUK when seen by other users. However the move has prompted a backlash on social media TalkRADIO broadcaster and Brexiteer Julia Hartley-Brewer wrote on Twitter: It is just plain wrong for @CCHQPress to rename themselves as FactCheckUK for this #ITVDebate. Stop it.

Labour MP David Lammy said: The Conservative Party press office @CCHQPress rebranding themselves as FactCheckUK shows what disdain this party and this government has for the truth.

The Electoral Commission must investigate and punish this blatant attempt to decieve the public. #LeadersDebate #ITVDebate

LBC reporter Matthew Thompson wrote on Twitter: This is extraordinary. The Conservative Party press Twitter account has renamed itself factcheckUK as if to give the impression it is a genuine fact checking account. Unbelievable.

Tory party chairman James Cleverly defended the move and CCHQ has since changed its Twitter account back.

Mr Cleverly told Sky News: We make it absolutely clear it is a Conservative party website we are checking the claims put forward.

Boris Johnson kicked off the debate and hit out at Mr Corbyn in his opening speech and said a Labour Government would bring more deadlock and division to the UK. The Prime Minister said the Conservatives are the only party who can get Brexit done and then unleash the potential of this entire country.

Mr Johnson said a potential coalition between the Labour Party and the SNP would bring more dither and delay and two more referendums on the EU and Scottish Independant.

Mr Johnson told the ITV debate: There is only one reason why we are having this election and that we have a deadlocked parliament that will not deliver Brexit.

And whether you voted for Leave or Remain people want to get Brexit done and to unleash the potential of this entire country and we Conservatives can, because if you vote for us, we have a deal that is ready to go, approved by everyone of the 635 Conservative candidates standing at this election.

And as soon as we can get that deal through parliament as we can in the next few weeks we can get on with the peoples priorities and thats the choice dither and delay, deadlock and division under a Corbyn-Sturgeon coalition with two referendums.

Another one on the EU and then another one on Scotland or we can end this national misery break the deadlock, get Brexit done and make 2020 a year of prosperity and growth.

Where we invest in our NHS and deal with the cost of living, together lets take this country forwards.

Follow for live election updates:

10.15pm update: Swinson rules out forming a coalition

Jo Swinson vowed to revoke Article 50 on her first day in office if she were to be elected prime minister.

The leader of the liberal democrats also ruled out forming a coalition with either Labour or the Tories.

Ms Swinson said: "Liberal Democrat votes are not going to put either Boris Johnson or Jeremy Corbyn into power because I believe our country deserves better than either of them."

She said she could not envisage working with either party even if they were to change their leadership, saying: "Both men are a product of their party.

"Even if they changed their leader I don't think there's any guarantee that they would be a more moderate figure."

9.30pm update: YouGov poll finds narrow victory for Boris

A YouGov snap poll suggested 51 percent of Britons believed Boris Johnson won the debate compared to 49 percent for Mr Corbyn.

Those who answered "don't know" were removed from the result, with YouGov adding the figures are so close as to be within the margin of error.

Chris Curtis, YouGov's political research manager, said: "Our snap poll shows that the public is divided on who won the debate, with most Labour voters thinking Jeremy Corbyn won, most Conservative voters thinking Boris Johnson won, and very few people changing their minds.

"But given the Conservatives went into this debate in the lead, they will hope the lack of a knockout blow means they can maintain this until voting day."

9.20pm update: Raab: Boris 'proved the doubters wrong

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: "Trust in British politicians is not particularly high but what they do want to see is what you do, what you are capable of delivering.

"He has shown in three months that he got the deal that no-one said could be delivered, everyone said it was impossible - he proved the doubters wrong."

9.10pm update: Patel reacts to debate - Boris was the only prime minister on the stage

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: "It was quite clear Boris was the only prime minister on the stage this evening.

"But actually I think he was very strong on the NHS and challenging Corbyn quite frankly on Brexit where Corbyn effectively refused for nine times to outline what his plan was, whether or not he was going to be for Leave or Remain."

8.57pm update: Boris gives closing remarks - Corbyn unfit for PM

Boris Johnson accused Mr Corbyn of being "unfit" to be prime minister.

He added: "Mr Corbyn, you've heard tonight, cannot answer the fundamental questions. Is he for Remain or Leave and what price would he pay to secure Nicola Sturgeon's support to enter Number 10?

"If he can't answer those questions tonight, I don't think he's fit to lead our country."

8.54pm update: Corbyn gives closing remarks - once-in-a-generation election

In his closing remarks, Jeremy Corbyn urged viewers to register to vote in a "once-in-a-generation election".

He added: "This is a once-in-a-generation election to end privatisation and give the National Health Service the funding it needs.

To give people the final say and get Brexit sorted.

"To tackle the climate emergency that threatens our futures. To invest good jobs in every region and nation of our country.

"I ask that you vote for hope and vote Labour on December 12."

8.48pm update: Two leaders respond to Prince Andrew question

Asked if the Duke of York is fit for purpose Mr Corbyn said: "Before we discuss Prince Andrew I think we should discuss the victims that are there because of what Epstein was doing.

"I think there are very, very serious questions that must be answered and nobody should be above the law, but the primary position ought to be the proper treatment of those people who were victims of the most appalling behaviour by apparently Epstein and many others."

Boris Johnson Johnson said "all our sympathies" should be with the victims of Epstein, adding: "The law must certainly take its course."

8.45pm update: Corbyn says Labour will end austerity

Mr Corbyn said: "We will end austerity, I am absolutely clear about that because it is so brutal on the lives of so many people."

8.42pm update: Boris vows to invest in public services

Boris Johnson said: "I believe in spending, investing massively in our public services because we support ... a dynamic wealth-creating sector."

8.35pm update: Boris hits out at Labours four-day working week plan

Boris Johnson said: "What could be more ruinous for the NHS than a crackpot plan for a four-day week, which would add massively to the burdens not just of the NHS but of every public service in the country?"

8.28pm update: Corbyn addresses anti-Semitism allegations within the Labour Party

Jeremy Corbyn said: "Anti-Semitism is an absolute evil and scourge within our society.

"Racism in any form is a scourge in our society. I have taken action in my party where anyone who has committed any anti-Semitic acts or made any anti-Semitic statements, they either suspended or expelled from the party and investigated every single case. We do take this very, very seriously indeed."

8.25pm update: Corbyn rules out coalition

Jeremy Corbyn said: "There's not going to be a coalition between Labour and anybody else.

There are no deals that have been done and there will be no deals that are done."

Mr Corbyn added: Ive said there would be no deal with the SNP, there would be no support for a Scottish referendum in the early years of the next Labour government because I want to invest in Scotland and give Scotland the 70 billion it needs in capital investment."

8.22pm update: Boris defends Brexit deal

Boris Johnson said: We have a deal that keeps the whole of the UK together as we come of the EU and, of course, Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party, be in no doubt about it, in order to secure power and the keys to number 10 are going to do a deal, or probably already have done a deal with Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP to form Corbyn-Sturgeon coalition and the price of that deal ... would be a second referendum on the union with Scotland."

8.20pm update: Corbyn asked is the union worth sacrificing for Brexit?

Jeremy Corbyn said: "The agreement that the Prime Minister ... has put to Parliament was about creating a border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, and creating a different customs arrangement for Northern Ireland with the rest of Ireland, having promised to the Democratic Unionist Party he would never do that.

"Clearly, there is an issue there. Clearly, there are issues all around about this deal he has proposed."

8.18pm update: Boris says NHS not for sale

Boris Johnson has said the NHS is not on the table in any future trade deals.

The Prime Minister said: "This is an absolute invention. It is completely untrue.

There are no circumstances whatever in which this Government or any Conservative government will put the NHS on the table in any trade negotiation."

8.15pm update: Corbyn challenges Boris on the NHS

Jeremy Corbyn accuses Boris Johnson of trying to sell the NHS

The Labour leader said: "What we know of what Mr Johnson has done is a series of secret meetings with the United States in which they were proposing to open up our NHS markets as they call them to American companies."

8.10pm update: Boris says Tories have Brexit deal that is ready to go

Boris Johnson Johnson told the ITV debate: There is only one reason why we are having this election and that we have a deadlocked parliament that will not deliver Brexit.

And whether you voted for Leave or Remain people want to get Brexit done and to unleash the potential of this entire country and we Conservatives can, because if you vote for us, we have a deal that is ready to go, approved by everyone of the 635 Conservative candidates standing at this election.

And as soon as we can get that deal through parliament as we can in the next few weeks we can get on with the peoples priorities and thats the choice dither and delay, deadlock and division under a Corbyn-Sturgeon coalition with two referendums.

Another one on the EU and then another one on Scotland or we can end this national misery break the deadlock, get Brexit done and make 2020 a year of prosperity and growth.

Where we invest in our NHS and deal with the cost of living, together lets take this country forwards.

8.05pm update: Corbyn says Labour offering real change

Jeremy Corbyn has said the general election gives you a real choice".

The Labour leader said: "A choice about your future, the future of your community and of your country.

"Labour is offering real change and real hope."

8.00pm: ITV debate begins

Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn have begun the ITV debate in Salford.

7.30pm update: Raab reacts ahead of ITV debate

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab wrote on Twitter: Up in Salford for the ITV leaders debate. Will be working the spin room, and making the case for @BorisJohnson for PM and a majority @Conservatives govt to unleash Britains potential.#BackBoris #LeadersDebate."

6.20pm update: Corbyn arrives ahead of ITV debate

Jeremy Corbyn has arrived for the ITV debate with Boris Johnson.

Mr Corrbyn told ITV: Its going to be, I hope a respectful and informative debate, am I am looking forward to it.

5.45pm update: Boris Johnson snatches back election popularity from Labour as Kensington rejects Corbyn

Boris Johnson appears on track to snatch back the Kensington from the Labour Party as voters in the London constituency voiced their support for the Conservatives to Express.co.uk.

Boris Johnson is hoping to keep a stronghold on the constituencies the Conservative Party won in 2017 in addition to targeting seats in traditional Labour heartlands.

The Prime Minister is also on track to regain the marginal constituency of Kensington, which the party lost to Labour in the snap election his predecessor, Theresa May, called two years ago.

Prospective voters appear to be leaning back towards the Tories after several locals told Express.co.uk they are planning to put their trust in Mr Johnson and back Conservatives in December.

READ MORE: Boris Johnson snatches back election popularity from Labour as Kensington rejects Corbyn

5.05pm update: YouGov poll cuts Tory lead to 12-points

See more here:
Election 2019 LIVE: Tory HQ forced to backtrack after mocking Corbyn on Twitter - Express.co.uk

Three strategies to create a special link with strangers and collaborators across almost any distance.

November 20, 2019 7 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

When we do business, we do it through relationships. We select whom we want to engage with, and whom we come back to for more. The ability to make a real connection, and make the other person like you is a big part of your success or failure.

It can be useful to look at it from the angle of positional and personal power. Sometimes positional power makes it possible for us to engage in any way we want. The people we are trying to reach simply have to respond. But the way they do, of course, is affected by our likeability, or lack thereof. In the new gig economy with more and more entrepreneurs, we cannot lean on positional power only. Even for employees inside organizations, an entrepreneurial mindset is often desired. Part of that mindset is knowing how to navigate and connect, while making ourselves likeable.

Ive supported several stellar professionals make the transition from a big corporate position to create their own venture and brand, witnessing their surprise when they discover a need for a whole new approach. On the journey of acquiring personal power, likeability changes from a nice-to-have to a vital career resource. Defining likeability is a strange thing; at the same time, an intuitive gut feeling, and a series of different traits. In his book, The Popularity Illusion, Mitch Prinstein describes likeable people as cooperative, able to keep a conversation going, while giving others a chance to speak, and creative at solving awkward dilemmas. In short, theyre good at being part of a group. Its finding that gentle balance of feeling comfortable in our own skin to share and lead, without the need to dominate.

The road to get there starts right at home. Before anything else, we need to like ourselves. In the same way as the instructions for oxygen masks in the airplane, we need to put our own mask on first, and then we can begin to help others. When we let go of judgment towards ourselves, its so much easier to like people around us. The relationship between the two is parallel. Once weve landed in a safe haven of self-acceptance, we make it easier for other people to join in and like us, too.

Related:In Defense Of Influencers: The Importance Of Protecting Your Personal Brand

Here are three strategies that have made it possible for me to create that special link with strangers and collaborators across almost any distance, be it geographical, socio-economical, or among different business sectors.

1. BE ROOTED When we meet a new person, the first thing we pick up is a quality of trust: friend or foe? And the way we know is that feeling of presence. When it comes to trust, it doesnt typically show up in grey scales or a continuum, its an either-or. One of the reasons its not always that easy to come across to others as authentic is because we tend to be in a mental space. Or, using the poignant description by James Joyce, Mr. Duffy lived a short distance from his body. When we stay up in our head, its easier for others to manipulate us, both physically and on an emotional level. Without connection to our core, we have a hard time drawing boundaries when confronted with a strong will we dontagree with.

And its not all feelings and sensations. Modern science has named it the gut brain, or the little brain. We have an enteric nervous system inside our intestines, impacting our immune system, decisions, and our presence in the room. Most of us havent been taught to tune in with our gut brain, and the messages it has for us. During your days with different conversations and meetings, find your own way of integrating that question inwards. What does my gut brain say to this? You might have some startling insights. And its easier to like someone when theyre bringing their whole self along.

2. BE REAL One of the factors that have the strongest oscillation on the scale of likeability is the voice. When was the last time you were listening to an automated voice assuring you of how much it cares, while cringing inside? Its almost violent to sit through a longer call with robotic recordings, each menu option pushing us further into frustration. And the opposite? The magic of an auditorium joining in the wordless mixture of heartbreak and promise of a new tomorrow, as they are showered by the velvet in a human voice. Nothing touches us the way the voice does. Its not only when we listen to beautiful concerts that the voice has an impact on others. In everyday conversations, each time we speak, our voice is telling a story on top of or under the words we are using. Its the story of what we are feeling. Feeling about the words were saying, about the person were talking to, and feeling about ourselves.

When we make a call, and our conversations are pure audio without facial expressions and body language, all of our nonverbal signals are concentrated into the voice. Its so obvious to us whether the person on the other end of the line believes in his or her own words. Even in situations when we all know that the words are part of a formality, we can still hear if the person is adding that personal touch. During your days with different conversations and meetings, pause in between to check in with yourself. Are you choosing the words that resonate with your personal truth, and if not, is there a way to align your words and your voice? Its such a likeable trait to say what we mean and mean what we say.

3. BE RESPONSIVE In the cult movie Pulp Fiction, Mia Wallace asks her guy: Do you listen, or do you wait to talk? Unfortunately, we have a tendency to do just that- theres a lot of waiting to talk. Not necessarily because we are selfish, but because listening requires discipline and dedication, its not easy. As listeners, we have a longing. Make this moment memorable. Tell me something thats relevant. Make me feel like you have never told this story to anyone else in this way. We want to feel special. We want our exchanges to have meaning.

One of the most tangible ways of creating that meaning is to listen to the person were talking to, and adapt our content along the way. Its the opposite of repeating the same old script. During your days with different conversations and meetings, make sure to make space for the part of the exchange that no one knows where will land. Youll be more likeable for sure, and youll have more rewarding conversations as well.

Related:Marketing Yourself: Developing Your Personal Brand

See the original post here:
Likeability In Business: Why We Need It More Than Ever - Entrepreneur

Boss Manufacturing Company has agreed in principle to sell its glove, boots and rainwear business to Boston-based Protective Industrial Products Inc, a supplier of personal protective equipment. No financial terms were disclosed. PIP is a portfolio company of Audax Group.

PRESS RELEASE

KEWANEE, Ill., Nov. 25, 2019 /PRNewswire/ Boss Manufacturing Company (Boss), a national supplier of personal protection equipment, announced today that it has reached an agreement in principle to sell the assets of its glove, boots, and rainwear business to Protective Industrial Products, Inc. (PIP) of Latham, New York. Specific terms of the deal have not been announced with the transaction expected to close within thirty days.

Boss, a wholly owned subsidiary of Boss Holdings, Inc. (BSHI), is the oldest U.S. work glove company with operations dating back to 1893 and has been a leading supplier of work gloves and personal protective gear to both the consumer and industrial markets, including CAT branded work gloves and safety products. PIP is an international supplier of personal protective equipment and is a portfolio company of Audax Group, a diversified private equity firm headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts with over 20 years of middle market experience and strategic investments in over 130 companies.

Boss Chief Operating Officer, Richard Bern, stated, We feel a deal with PIP will be a natural fit for both companies. We believe the synergies of a combination of our businesses will position this partnership for future success. The acquisition of Boss will further solidify PIPs position as a global leader in hand protection and general safety products.

Boss plans to utilize a portion of the proceeds from the sale to pay off its existing debt and credit facility. After the sale, Boss and Boss Holdings would retain their Kewanee, Illinois headquarters, warehouse facilities and the majority of its operating staff. If completed, the transaction will provide Boss Holdings financial flexibility for its remaining businesses and working capital needs.

Other subsidiaries of Boss Holdings Inc. include: Boss Pet Products, Inc. and PetEdge LLC, headquartered in Oakwood Village, Ohio and Beverly, Massachusetts, respectively, nationwide distributors of a broad line of pet toys and pet supplies to retailers and an industry-leading ecommerce marketer of pet grooming products to pet groomers, boarders, veterinarians and individual consumers through PetEdge.com.

Galaxy Balloons, Incorporated, based in Cleveland, Ohio, a leading supplier of imprinted balloons, sport balls, ornaments and drinkware to the promotional products industry.

Boss Tech Products, Inc. d/b/a Aries Manufacturer, a distributor of a wide range of cell phone accessories, including Cat branded chargers, power packs, cords and speakers.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release may contain various forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those matters expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which are in some cases beyond the control of the company.

ABOUT BOSS MANUFACTURING Over 125 years of excellence. Building great things takes trust. Trust in talent. Trust in skills. Trust in tools. Since 1893, industrial workers, retailers, hobbyists and distributors have trusted Boss Manufacturing to deliver the safety wear and support they need for every situation. Today, Boss continues to respond to the urgent needs of our customers. Boss keeps up with emerging technologies to continue to offer innovative glove designs for changing work environments. As the oldest glove company in the United States, Boss has developed the infrastructure, inventory and relationships needed to ensure our customers and partners always have everything they need to succeed -as soon as they need it. Additional information about Boss Manufacturing is available at http://www.bossgloves.com.

ABOUT PROTECTIVE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS PIPs global mission of Bringing the Best of the World to You is fulfilled every day by way of its portfolio of companies and brands. Protective Industrial Products (PIP) is a leader in providing innovative safety products to wholesalers and distributors in the industrial channels. PIP, along with its recognized leading brands: G-Tek, Assurance, Kut-Gard, QRP, Maximum Safety, Dynamic and most recently, Uniform Technology and Boss Manufacturing, are relied upon for personal protection by workers every day. West Chester offers safety products to leading retail customers under the Safety Works, Brahma; Mud; West County Gardener and Hearos, brands as well as some of the worlds most recognized and licensed brands. Additional information about PIP is available at http://www.pipglobal.com.

ABOUT AUDAX PRIVATE EQUITY Audax Group is a leading alternative investment manager with offices in Boston, New York, and San Francisco. Since its founding in 1999, the firm has raised over $26 billion in capital across its Private Equity and Private Debt businesses. Audax Private Equity has invested over $5 billion in more than 130 platforms and 825 add-on companies, and is currently investing out of its $3.5 billion, sixth private equity fund. Through its disciplined Buy & Build approach, Audax seeks to help platform companies execute add-on acquisitions that fuel revenue growth, optimize operations, and significantly increase equity value. With more than 250 employees and over 100 investment professionals, the firm is a leading capital partner for North American middle market companies. For more information, visit the Audax Group website http://www.audaxgroup.com.

Read more from the original source:
Boss to sell glove, boots and rainwear business to Audax-backed PIP - PE Hub

Good copywriting can not only help a company define its own identity and convey its core message to its target audience, it can also educate potential and existing customers and ultimately drive sales by persuading people to buy.

But good copywriting is not as easy to accomplish as one would think. Creating strong, persuasive copy goes beyond merely writing down what a company stands for -- it has to do with truly understanding the target audience and crafting content that speaks to them and their pain points.

While mastering the art of copywriting may take years of practice, there are a few tested tricks of the trade that any writer can benefit from. Below, 13 members of Forbes Communications Council explore a few foolproof copywriting methods that any business can use to drive their sales.

Members share their top copywriting tips that they use to boost sales.

1. Always Make It About Them, Not You

Most email marketers make the mistake of starting an email with something like, "I just wanted to..." or "I'd love to get some time..." but that focuses on your needs, not your buyer's. A more effective approach would be "You recently wrote on your blog that..." or "Congrats on your recent promotion!" That's the kind of stuff that grabs people's attention. - Udi Ledergor, Gong

2. Be Authentic And Consistent

Consistency in your brand, tone and voice is key. You need every single employee in your company to understand and be educated on your brand, tone and voice. If all the brand campaigns, marketing emails, website pages and solution briefs have one voice but the release notes, outage and renewal notices all have different tones and voices, you will not be seen as authentic. - Seema Kumar, servicechannel.com

3. Make A Personal Connection

Remember there is always a person receiving your marketing message. Even if you are in business-to-business marketing, the goal is to connect with an individual. Align your messaging with what will actually resonate with recipients, which often involves more than clearly articulating your value proposition. Communicate how you will have a direct and positive impact on the recipient and make that personal connection. - Tom Wozniak, OPTIZMO Technologies, LLC

4. Keep It Conversational But Concise

Keep your copy short and sweet. Effective messaging is achieved best with concise, punchy and powerful language. Moreover, when thinking strategically and working to inform or persuade your audience, use conversational language geared toward your targeted demographics to drive engagement and ultimately, sales. - Maura Kennedy, Pond Lehocky Stern Giordano, LLP

5. Speak To The Individual Customer

Rather than speaking in broad strokes, you must use copy to make every potential customer feel as though you're speaking directly to them. That includes everything from the nouns and pronouns used (i.e. "your") and their particular business to including particular content or items they've shown interest in previously. - Jason Wolfson, VuPulse

6. Have A Call To Action

Always incorporate a call to action in your sales copy. This is what you need to really seal the deal and push your audience to take that next step. A call to action will also help you track the success of that particular copy or marketing piece, whether thats a dedicated number, promo code or trackable booking link. - Dana Baasiri, AIC Hotel Group

7. Match The Voice Of Your Audience

Copywriting is not one-size-fits-all. For copywriting to be effective, you need to articulate that content in a way that resonates with the reader. The delivery is just as important as the content itself. Consider the language and jargon of your audience, and mirror that voicing in your copywriting. By matching their voicing, your content will resonate as familiar, informative and authoritative. - Devin Henry, Nomadic Real Estate Investments, LLC

8. Play Devil's Advocate

Put yourself in your customer's shoes and explore any concerns they may have about using your products or services. Now address these concerns and add positive advantages to working with you. Allow your counterarguments and positive additions to serve as a guide to help you create copy that will naturally lower their subconscious resistance by the time they reach your call to action. - Karla Larraga, Champions School of Real Estate

9. Serve Up Value And Actionable Advice

The sales pitch is dead. Yes, your site needs a strong value proposition. You should even talk up those products and/or services. But within reason. Consumers are bombarded with sales pitches every 10 minutes, and they have stopped listening. Instead, deliver content that your target audience finds useful -- content they can consume and run with to solve a problem, fix something or ponder deeply. - Stephen Seifert, Seifert Media

10. Lead With What They're Feeling

Great copywriting is the output of truly understanding your buyer's story and their pain. That's why it's so critical to lead with it. And with research telling us time and time again that consumers buy on emotion, leading with it in your marketing will be the difference between eliciting the kind of emotional response that causes a buyer to click through rather than continuing to scroll. - Yoni Solomon, G2 (formerly G2 Crowd)

11. Leverage AI Tools To Streamline Copy Editing

We're living in an amazing time where there's a tool for everything. With tools like Grammarly and the smart compose feature on Gmail, there's no reason to have unnecessary mistakes in correspondence. Make it a company policy to leverage these tools to help your team present your brand with excellence and professionalism in written correspondence. - Holly Tate, Vanderbloemen Search Group

12. Consider Search Engine Optimization

When mocking up copy for sales use, consider keywords your competitors are using to differentiate themselves and use them to your advantage. Gain web traction by implementing words that are currently used in your brand's repertoire -- remember, organic search engine optimization is your friend. - Harrison Eaton, Backbone PLM

13. Make The Copy Accessible To Your Team

Copywriting is a natural skill for some but a labored skill for others. Regardless of wordsmithing skills, document automation software can help all employees deliver crisp and impactful copy to your customers. Ensure that the entire sales organization has access to best-practice content to build pitch presentations or send compelling business emails, pre-crafted by your best copywriters. - Lucy Mehrtens, Templafy

See the rest here:
13 Foolproof Copywriting Tricks To Drive Sales - Forbes

Author, speaker, and social entrepreneur Jess Ekstrom.

Might success be as simple as being willing to start where you are and have the required optimism to believe that things can be better than they are currently?

According to author, speaker, and social entrepreneur Jess Ekstrom, its that simple.

In her recently released book Chasing The Bright Side, she shares practical steps and stories of vulnerability to help embrace optimism, activate your purpose, and write your own story.

However, this isnt one of those sunshine-and-rainbows type of stories. For the first time, she shares what happened when her family got caught up in her Great Uncle Bernie Madoffs Ponzi scheme. Then she encourages the reader to chase the one life youve been given.

In our conversation, we cover why optimism is so critical to your success, the difference between uncertainty and possibility, starting before youre ready, a new paradigm for failure, becoming more resourceful without any more resources, and choosing your purpose.

Take a read:

Darrah Brustein: Why is optimism your core message?

Jess Ekstrom: I was really tired of the same success narrative: one day I had this idea, then I did it and the next day I was a millionaire. But really, success is not born out of skill, school, where were from, whom we know, or what we scored on the SAT. None of us was born ready or knowing what to do.

But we are born with something more important than skills. Were born with optimism: the initial seed for success. Optimism fuels the belief that you can be the one to create the good the world needs.

I want Chasing the Bright Side to show a different success narrative: one where you dont have to know what youre doing to know that you can get there.

Ekstrom with her newly released book.

Brustein: You share a story youd never before shared about your familial connection to Bernie Madoff and the impact that had on you and your family financially and emotionally. What has surprised you since you shared that story?

Ekstrom: I really battled whether or not I wanted to share it. But at the end of the day, one of the main takeaways of Chasing the Bright Side is that our experiences and stories are two completely different things.

Our experiences are tangible life events that we cant control: the weather, our flight delay, the post offices being closed right when we need it. But our stories are how we internalize and respond to our life experiences. So although we cant always control our experiences, we can always write our story.

Being related to Bernie Madoff was such a pivotal experience in my life that wrote such a different story that I can now see over ten years later. I hope by sharing about something so vulnerable, it helps readers come to terms with some of their life experiences that have blindsided them.

Brustein: Please talk about the difference between uncertainty and possibility.

Ekstrom: Sometimes we scroll through our newsfeeds or read the paper and we see these crazy things happening all over the world. We file these things away in this part of our brain that says, That wont ever happen to me.

Never would I have imagined the scenario which my family went through with Bernie in 2008, but it taught me that anything can happen. And this idea that anything can happen gives us a choice: we can live in fear of the unknown or excitement about possibility.

Anything can happen could mean the apocalypse could happen tomorrow, or it could also mean that you pick up a guitar for the first time and you go on tour with Coldplay in a year. Optimism is about taking this idea that anything can happen and leaning into the excitement of all the possibilities.

Brustein: We both have studied improv and have taken away a core competency of the yes, and framework for life. Please share about this and how it applies to what you teach.

Ekstrom: One of the golden rules of improv is a response called, yes, and . . .. When youre improvising with someone in a scene, they could say something like: Hey, Jess. Do you see that big mountain of spaghetti off in the distance? Then you have to acknowledge their improvisation as the truth by saying yes and justify it with your own truth built on top of that, which is the and . . .: Yes, Billy, I do see that mountain of spaghetti off in the distance, and we should go run through these pastures of risotto and cross the alfredo lake to get to it. Then, your partner would yes, and . . . to what you just said to continue to build the story. But imagine if the scene went like this:

Partner: Hey, Jess, do you see the mountain of spaghetti off in the distance?

Me: No.

End scene.

Not exactly a story wed tell at parties. When we say yes to something, it moves us from one place to the next. It takes us to the mountain of spaghetti and lets us ride down it on a meatball. But when we say no, we stay in the exact same room were in right now. Saying no keeps the door shut, but saying yes leads to possibilityeven when we dont know what that possibility is.

Headbands of Hope began when I said yes to an internship at Disney World. I really didnt have any thought or reason behind it, but I knew that more opportunities could happen to me if I said yes rather than no.

Sometimes we have these internal checklists for things to which we say yes. Who will be there? Whats the risk? Do they serve free food? But sometimes we just have to focus on the possibilities if we go for it, instead of trying to check all these boxes.

When we say yes to an idea, an opportunity, a new relationship, or even a new item on a menu that you cant pronounce, were expanding our palette of experiences. And when we expand our palette of experiences, we have more opportunities for stories and growth. We cant taste food weve never tried. We cant shake the hand of someone weve never met.

Brustein: So many of the readers struggle with not feeling ____ enough (ready, smart, pretty, thin, rich, prepared, etc). Please share your thoughts on this, particularly as someone who started her first business from her dorm room.

Ekstrom: A really freeing revelation for me was that every expert was once a beginner. Teachers first had to be students. Anyone who runs first had to learn to walk. Everyone whos ever solved a problem was once just pondering an idea. But everyone whos done something great had to have a moment where they turned that idea into action.

So if everyone had to start somewhere, why not here? And if success isnt about our skills or all of our expertise, then why not you? Everyone whos ever done something great has always had to believe that he or she could be the one to do it.

Brustein: I love your point about how you see companies fail not because they lack resources, but because they are not resourceful. Please share more about this.

Ekstrom: I got my first logo by persuading a graphic design teacher to make my logo creation an assignment for her class. I made my first website by paying a computer design student in Chipotle burritos.

When I got the idea for Headbands of Hope, I didnt have a lot of money or experience, but I looked at what I did have and started there. Its so easy to look over the fence and think about what you dont have thats holding you back. Instead, focus that time and energy into being resourceful with the things that are right in front of you.

Brustein: Im such a believer in the power of relationships, and you share about the power of in-person relationships, not just virtual (to the point that youll hop on a plane to connect). How have those benefited you, and what do you say to someone who is only connecting online and by phone with his or her network?

Ekstrom: I share stories about how I hopped on planes to meet with people who agreed to meet with me since I was in the area. If theres one thing I take a gamble on, its meeting in person. Relationships move so much more quickly face-to-face, and its also so much more productive than a long email chain or even navigating phone or video conversations.

It might sound like more legwork to meet in person, but those in-person meetings were pivotal to the future of my company.

Ekstrom smiling with one of the recipients of a free headband.

Brustein: Lets talk about quitting and failure. Theres a lot of conversation that leads one to believe that winners never quit or that failure is the thing to fear (or the opposite these days: fail fast to fail forward). Whats your take on quitting and failure?

Ekstrom: I had a massive failure in the beginning of Headbands of Hope. Lets just say it had something to do with a loan from a family member and a fraudulent manufacturer. In the wake of this event, I seriously thought about quitting.

Most of what you read says something along the lines of quitting is for losers, which is usually printed on a poster of a lion chasing its prey or a snow-capped mountain with a guy hanging on with his pinkie. But thats not my take on it. I dont want to feel trapped in what Im doing, because we always have choices. I want to work toward something I want to do rather than work toward something I feel as if I have to do. And if that feeling changes, Ill pass the baton and do something else.

Telling yourself you can quit at any moment isnt a reminder of weakness; its a reminder of choice. And when we choose to keep going, were choosing to recommit to our purpose.

Brustein: The courage to begin where one is can be the thing that makes all the difference. How do you encourage people just to start?

Ekstrom: One question: what feels light to you right now?

Dont think about all the things you have to do and the long journey ahead, just break the seal and do something small today. Sometimes we can get so distracted and discouraged with trying to win the Super Bowl that we dont focus on just getting the first down.

Start with what feels easiest and what youre most excited to do. Maybe thats sketching out your idea for how it would look. Maybe its doing a bit of research. Maybe its asking to meet with someone whos walked a similar path.

Baby steps are still steps. When we dont burden ourselves with the heaviness of a massive to-do list, it makes everything seem more manageable. And the baby steps add up. One day youll look back and all the small things you did will accumulate to something really big.

Brustein: Focusing on our success, our journey, and the timing of it can make a massive difference in our progress and trajectory. You talk about the downsides of things like comparing our chapter one to someones chapter seven or thinking that someones failure makes room for our success. Please expand on this.

Ekstrom: Ive realized that most judgments about ourselves are in relation to someone else. Isnt that crazy? Anytime Im hard on myself, I can usually point it to feeling less than someone else, not because of my own personal standards. Its a flaw Im working on.

We cant compare our chapter one to someone elses chapter seven. What we see across from us on the subway, on Instagram, or parked in peoples driveways is not a good metric for how were doing . . . because we only see what people are willing to expose. We dont see all the things theyre not willing to admit.

Someone elses success does not make yours any less. Someone elses failure does not make you any better. The only metric that matters is our own individuality.

Brustein: Please share about Give Gala as well as your suggestion to readers to do silent acts of giving.

Ekstrom: At Headbands of Hope we give a headband to a child with cancer for every headband we sell. Its a small accessory that makes a huge difference in a childs confidence.

Small acts of kindness are still super powerful, so we created an event that celebrates just that. Give Gala: The Worst Fundraiser Ever is a no-money fundraiser that raises acts of kindness for patients and families at local childrens hospitals.

However, when we hear about giving, its usually the Ellen DeGeneresstyle giving that involves a massive check to charity or sending a kid to college who couldnt afford it. Or funding a new jungle for endangered species to live in. And when we cant give in a massive way, we sometimes feel that we cant give at all.

When we focus on a mountain of trash, we dont see the single piece sitting right in front of us that we could easily pick up and throw away. Were too fixated on the impossible task of picking up all the trash instead of the small but very possible tasks that are right in front of us.

Optimism doesnt mean you have to revolutionize the world. Optimism is about a perception of the world that influences positive behaviors: big or small.

Brustein: Please share about alignment versus attention, and the danger of chasing the notion that happiness is achieved when something else transpires.

Ekstrom: I fell into this trap with my business where I was constantly chasing tangible achievements: awards, press, measurable goals. All of those are great and deserve to be celebrated, but we cant treat them as our final destination.

Success is something that cant be measured, it can only be felt. In other words, if you can quantify it, its not success. If what youre chasing is only validated by the likes of others, then stop chasing it. But if what youre chasing is something that is meaningful to you without the attention, then go for it at full speed.

Think about the last time you felt really good about something. For me, its my time spent in the hospitals interacting with patients.

When the likes go away and the applause falls silent, is what youre doing right now still meaningful to you? If your next point of impact did not get a like, a retweet, a share, some followers, or a pat on the back, would you still go through with it simply because it mattered? Do you really think that one more award will make you feel fulfilled?

Ekstrom in the cancer ward giving out free headbands to the kids.

Brustein: Purpose is both a buzzword and hard for many to identify, however, you have a unique approach to it. Please share.

Ekstrom: Ill give you an example of my definition of purpose. When I interned at Disney World, I met two other interns who were both custodians in the parks. One of them absolutely loathed her job and said she just picked up trash and it was dirty and she wanted to go home.

The other custodian who had the exact same job thought that he had the best job ever. He would greet guests as they walked into the park, hed help them plan their day, hed stop by the office and pick up Fast Passes and hand them out to kids, and he was helping keep the park clean so the guests could have a better experience.

These two people had the exact same assigned work: their contracts were the same, the list of tasks they are expected to do was both the same. The difference was one saw trash and the other created purpose.

Ready to run a business that doesnt run your life? Then check outMind Your Business, the first-ever year-long virtual acceleratorfor entrepreneurs who want to grow and scale their business, without sacrificing their lifestyle.

Read the original here:
The Initial Seed Of Success Youve Not Yet Considered (And How To Grow It Exponentially) - Forbes

A bus and pedestrian pass an advertisement for the Apple iPhone 6 in north London.

Neil Hall | Reuters

Apple's dedicated ad agency is cutting staff.

Media Arts Lab, a unit within Omnicom Group agency TBWA that's dedicated to Apple advertising, laid off several staffers Monday. The company wouldn't say how many were laid off, but a report from Bloomberg, which first broke the news, placed the number at 50.

"Yesterday was a difficult day, as we had to part with some of our talented colleagues," a TBWA/Media Arts Lab spokeswoman said in a statement to CNBC Tuesday. "Our relationship with Apple has never been stronger, but as the needs of our client continue to evolve, we must adapt and continue to evolve the composition of our teams. Decisions like this are never easy, nor are they taken lightly, but unfortunately it is the nature of the advertising business. We are incredibly grateful for the many contributions of those who are leaving us and the impact they have made at MAL and on the work."

Apple has a decades-long relationship with Omnicom Group agency TBWA, the agency behind the iconic "1984" commercial, which introduced Apple's first personal Macintosh, and "Think Different." In 2006, TBWA created TBWA/Media Arts Lab as Apple's bespoke creative agency. Lee Clow, the founder of Media Arts Lab and a close friend of Steve Jobs, officially retired earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Apple's often lauded in-house creative operations group has been adding to its ranks. The company hired Nick Law, chief creative at Publicis Groupe and creative superstar, several months ago. According to Law's LinkedIn profile, he now serves as a vice president of "Marcom Integration" at the company. Tor Myhren, VP of marketing and communications at Apple, joined from WPP's Grey back in 2016. Apple recently hired Evelyn Neill, previously of TBWA/Chiat/Day, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Myhren, in an emailed statement, said Apple has asked its agency to "evolve" as it changes its own marketing approach.

"Apple's confidence and trust in MAL as our singular ad agency is a strong as it's ever been. As we continue to evolve our marketing approach, we've asked MAL to do the same," he said.

The shift comes as Apple is marketing a slew of new products and services, from Apple TV+ to its new branded credit card. Earlier this year, Media Arts Lab hired new executive creative directors for the agency's Los Angeles headquarters to oversee creative for the iPhone and for services including work for Apple TV+, Apple Music and Apple Pay, Adweek reported in May.

Apple began building out its in-house shop in earnest several years ago, part of a broader trend of marketers taking certain advertising functions in-house to regain control or save money.

"[Media Arts Lab] is competing now with one of the best agencies in the business, and that's the in-house agency of Apple," said Avi Dan, founder and CEO of Avidan Strategies. He added that by marketing a widening array of products and expansion areas, the company might be seeking more intricate creative operations and relying more on internal resources to do that.

Greg Paull, principal and co-founder at consultancy R3, said the push and pull of creative work between Apple's in-house operations and its dedicated agency aren't necessarily new.

"The pendulum has always been swinging between Media Arts Lab and Apple for many years. The agency is a little at the mercy of Apple's whims and directions," he said.

But while brands seeking the success of Apple's in-house agency might be inspired by its results, Paull says one difference is the people Apple has inside it.

"The difference between everyone else's in-house agency and Apple's in-house agency is talent - the world's best are attracted to Cupertino and it makes it easier to develop big ideas in-house."

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Apple's ad agency has layoffs as the company beefs up its in-house ads group - CNBC

Todays epic collegeadmissions scandal holds three practical, actionable lessonsfor parents. No prison time required.

MediaNews Group via Getty Images

Actress Felicity Huffman was recently released from prison after serving 11 days for her involvement in the ongoing college admissions scandal. Huffman was convicted of paying $15,000 to have her daughters SAT doctored to help her get into an elite college.

But Huffman isnt alone. More than 30 other well-to-do parentsinfluencers in business, sports, education, healthcare, and entertainmentare involved in the scandal, not to mention those who have yet to be exposed. Stories like this demonstrate the lengths to which parents will go to give their children a competitive advantage.

Yes, seeing our kids succeed is a universal desireand, thankfully, theres an easier way than participating in a criminal conspiracy.

The educational landscape in America has shifted. It used to be enough to get good grades. Those who excelled in school could be fairly well assured of a viable, living-wage career awaiting them at the end of their higher education. It was a nice systemwhile it lasted.

Today, its no longer enough to excel in the academic realm. While robust academic performance is still important, young people who truly want to get ahead must add two other critical attributes to their portfolio: technical competency and professional skills.

Technical competency (or hard skills) can be gained in a variety of ways, including career-focused programs, internships, apprenticeships, licensures, and more. Even part-time employment can deliver technical abilities to some degree. Many employers are now looking at demonstrable skills and experience rather than the letters behind an applicants name. Whether theyre college, career, or military bound, every young person can benefit from the cognitive rigor required to master a technical ability.

When an individual has the academic and technical credentials, professional skills (or soft skills) complete the package. Professional skills are simply the personal attributes and character to succeed in the workplace: work ethic, punctuality, communication, leadership, ability to accept feedback, integrity, critical thinking, problem-solving, stress management, and many more. They are universal across all levels, in all industries, at all times, and are increasingly in demand.

There are many rewarding routes to educational and career success. Parents can play a vital role in helping their middle or high school student discover what theyre passionate about and make a plan to get therewhether college is in the picture or not. Here are three ways you can support their educational and career journey.

To succeed in the new, ever-changing workforce, your child will need robust academic knowledge, technical competency, and professional skillsa trifecta of competitive, economic advantage. And your support can make it happen. No prison time required.

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You Dont Have To Go To Jail To Give Your Kid An Edge - Forbes

A black cat got fans on their feet as it dashed onto MetLife Stadium during the Giants-Cowboys "Monday Night Football" game. Storyful

The Chargers and the NFL have backed themselves into a corner of their own design.

The league allowed the Chargers to destroy their home in San Diego, certain there would be a market for the team in Los Angeles despite all warnings to the contrary. Sure enough, its three years later and the only market where the Chargers are thriving is the secondary one.

Their temporary home only seats 30,000, yet it is repeatedly overrun by opponents fans. Sales of personal seat licenses for theswanky, soon-to-openSoFi Stadiumare reportedly feeble. With almost no history in Los Angeles, the Chargers have not been able to get a foothold in a town where interest in the NFL has never been particularly strong.

Chargers fans are often surrounded by empty seats at home, or by fans of the opposing team.(Photo: Sean M. Haffey, Getty Images)

Now come rumblings, via a report Monday in The Athletic, that the NFL is concerned enough about the Chargers long-term viability in Los Angeles that it is at least exploring the option of making the team its first full-time franchise in London.

Its total (expletive) (expletive), Chargers owner Dean Spanos said Tuesday. Were not going to London. Were not going anywhere. Were playing in Los Angeles. This is our home, and this is where we are planning to be for a long (expletive) time. Period.

The NFL wasn't quite so, umm, colorful, but no less definitive.

"No consideration has been given to the Chargers playing anywhere other than Los Angeles ... next season and beyond," the league said in a statement. "Both our office and the Chargers are entirely focused on the success of the team in Los Angeles."

Uh-huh. The success of the NFL's London games means some team is moving there, likely sooner rather than later, and right now the Chargers and the Jacksonville Jaguars are the most obvious candidates. Lets see what happens after a season or two of the Chargers dragging down the NFLs attendance numbers, or only being able to sell out their games at SoFi Stadium with the help of their out-of-town friends.

In the meantime, forgive me if I have zero sympathy for and am actually enjoying the predicament in which the NFL and Chargers find themselves.

The Chargers abandoned San Diego, their home of more than a half-century, for no other reason than greed. The loyalty of the fans, the impact the departure would have on a smaller-market city, the jobs that were lost Spanos didnt care about any of that. He wanted a new stadium but didnt want to pay for it, and when San Diego called his bluff, he picked up his ball and went to a new city.

That Spanos then accepted the NFLs $650 million relocation fee without batting an eye is some next-level hypocrisy. But I digress

The Chargers were always going to be a bad fit in Los Angeles, and just about everyone could see that. Los Angeles is all about glitz and glamour, but it has never been a big sports city. Not in the traditional sense, anyway. It loves its Lakers and its Dodgers and its USC football and UCLA basketball, but that has as much to do with the titles the teams have won and the stars who have played for them as anything else.

The Clippers, another San Diego transplant, have been in Los Angeles for how long now? And its taken a super team and a hyperactive and quirky owner who can spawn a new meme at any moment to make them semi-relevant in their own town.

Los Angeles history with the NFL was not exactly heartening, either. It had lured and lost two teams, the Rams and the Raiders, and didnt seem to mind being without an NFL team for 20-some years after they left. Didnt really seem to notice, if were being truthful.

To foist two teams on a city ambivalent about the NFL and think both would thrive was either arrogant or ignorant or a little bit of both.

At least the Rams had a history in Los Angeles, along with a small fan base that stayed loyal while the team was in St. Louis. The Chargers had nothing.

Plus, those in Los Angeles who cared about the NFL already had their allegiances, whether it was still to the Rams or Raiders, or some other team. There was no room for the Chargers, and no want to create any for them, either.

The NFL and the Chargers seem to think all of this will change when the team moves into SoFi Stadium, which it will share with the Rams. That the people of Los Angeles will be so dazzled by the new digs that they will embrace the Chargers and forget about the ugliness in San Diego.

But the Chargers need more than a change of address if that address is still in Southern California, that is and the NFL needs to be realistic about the market in Los Angeles. Allowing the Chargers to move to Los Angeles was a bad idea, one that looks worse with every game they play there.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on Twitter @nrarmour.

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Opinion: Chargers are never going to make it in Los Angeles - USA TODAY

Personal FinanceTuesday, November 5, 2019 16:10

By ELVIS MOENGA |

On a cold Friday evening in Eldoret, I sat next to an old man. In a room where the average age was about 24 years old, he was noticeable. When he opened his mouth, it was like hearing a bird sing its first melody of the morning. The old man and the map of wrinkles on his face told of an incredible journey.

As we spoke, he asked me: What makes a chair stable? To which I answered the legs of the chair. How many legs does a chair need to be stable? Four, I answered. At the back of my mind I knew it was a trick. He then showed me that a chair can achieve stability on three legs.

There are many things that can make a man successful, but there are three things that can make him truly successful, he continued. In the conversation that ensued, he shared with me the following three pillars of true success, which I live by.

THE TRUTH: Today, it can seem as though the truth is becoming a relative commodity. But there is a marked distinction in telling the honest truth. Many may argue that stock must move and that business needs to make profit at whatever cost. This school of thought is myopic and does not consider the long-term effects of manipulative behaviour in the market, for example. Honesty is the best policy, in business and in life.

HONEST HARD WORK: Honest hard work is a virtue that has been eroded yet there is no substitute. When we separate hard work from reward, our work becomes art! If you have ever bought a piece of art, you feel as though you have landed a great deal. Similarly, when you provide art that is a result of honest hard work, the effect is priceless.

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HONEST SERVICE: Honest service speaks to the how of work. When called upon to serve, do it with finesse. The hallmark of great leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Mother Teresa stemmed from the fact that they offered honest and selfless service.

It involved looking out for the wellbeing of others before the self and offering a seed of inspiration. This pillar is fuelled by honest hard work and honest truth.

A life grounded in a foundation of these three pillars will be deemed as nothing short of successful, the old man in Eldoret told me. We live in a society that needs quality people with strong and true ideals and who live according to these three pillars.

As the author Ellen White put it, and in terms that apply equally to men as to women, The greatest want of the world is the want of men men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls are true and honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right, though the heavens fall.

That night as I retired to rest, I thought about whether I was living these ideals and if as a millennial trying to cobble together an authentic experience in life, how those few moments of interaction had deepened my perspective.

I resolved to consider these simple yet profound pillars more carefully. That resolve is a gift in and of itself.

The writer is Senior Associate in PwC

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The three pillars that can deliver true success - Business Daily

Getty

A Gallup Poll survey in 2016 showed that one in five Millennials changed jobs in the last year. In addition, three out of five were actively looking for a new job.

Every new job brings you new opportunities. And if the Millennials are truly the job-hopping generation, then they stand the most to gain from these opportunities.

Those who prepare themselves before they first sit down at their new desk benefit the greatest. Before you begin, though, it makes sense to get organized.

Everyone wants to start off their employee experience on the right footand staying organized is at the top of the priority list, says Brad Goldoor, Chief People Officer at Phenom People in Amsterdam.

Staying organized is more than desk organizers and neat workspaces. More importantly, its about organizing your thoughts and coming up with a game plan to grab the blossoming opportunities youre about to experience. That means having some idea of the goals you want to achieve.

Here are three broad categories of goals you should bring with you on your first day at the new job:

Goal #1: A Professional Growth Plan

You might change jobs for the money, but its important to realize that with a greater salary comes a need to add greater value. If youre thinking several steps ahead, youll be planning how to grow professionally before you begin your new job.

Because of the strong job market, job seekers have the upper hand when changing jobs, says Jeff Weber, EVP People and Places at Instructure in the Greater Salt Lake City Area. And while employers are thinking of and offering new perks to recruit Millennials and new job seekers, perks arent what employees care about in the long run. The first thing on someones mind when they start a new job is how they are going to learn and grow professionally in their new job.

If the strategic objective is professional growth, then the most useful tactic is to be aggressive. Quickly seek to discover how your new employer trains its employees, what training opportunities it offers and where and when you might be able to obtain that training.

In roles where a fair bit of training is required, the way to prove yourself will be to pick up the necessary education as fast as possible, says Ilya Brotzky, CEO of VanHack in Vancouver, British Columbia. Ask colleagues for deeper insightsif these are the best practices and what practical hacks make a task quicker, easier or more efficient.

Goal #2: A Personal Growth Plan

A professional growth plan helps your employer to like you and you to like your employer. But all work and no play tends to sour life after a period of time. While you do need space between your job and your life, the two are like complementary branches intertwined with one another. And the glue between them may be the earnings you bring home with you.

Work, then, is not an end to itself, but a means to an end. Every decision with your new job should be framed through the lens of how can I use this to elevate my overall financial situation to achieve my personal goals faster?, says Kelley Long, Senior Financial Planner at Financial Finesse in Chicago and a member of the AICPA Consumer Financial Education Advocates.

This financial success may include increasing your retirement savings. It may also include non-monetary rewards like recognition among peers. People starting a new job are trying to assess the landscape and figure out what success will look like for them, says Sonya Sigler, CEO of PractiGal in San Carlos, California. They are busy meeting people, figuring out whats what, and making themselves and their work known.

Its not just recognition. Its the entire feeling of community you obtain from your work environment. In her capacity as Editorial Director at Amava in San Mateo, California, Rebecca Bloom has connected with a good number of members as they change jobs or reenter the workforce. She says, The most common thing that is top-of-mind for them is contributing to their new team and taking advantage of opportunities to earn and learn that are socially engaging.

Goal #3: Hit a Home Run

Face it. When you start a new job youre really excited. You feel like you matter. Marshal that confidence and energy. Now is the time to accomplish something big. When new hires walk in on their first day, they are ready to take on the world, says Goldoor. Motivation and aspiration fuel their efforts to knock any project out of the park.

Its normal to feel this way. Dont think youre overreaching. The first thing on someones mind really depends on their outlook on life, says Brotzky. For the candidates weve talked to who are taking on new jobs, its all about proving themselves. Theyre looking for the quick wins that will show their new employer that they made a good choice. Most people are eager to please while theyre getting onboarded.

Demonstrating this gusto and seeing it through to success can make a great lasting first impression. Someone that has just started a new job is likely assessing where they can have an impact and what they need to ramp up on in their industry (which may be new to them) or the business and the team, says Kelley Steven-Waiss, Founder of Hitch in Los Gatos, California. They will be looking for areas to have early wins and to understand spheres of influence. So much rests on first impressions that they want to figure out how to show up from their first day which can determine so much of their future success.

To achieve this future success, your actions cannot be carried out in a vacuum. Its critical that you have an audience. But not just any audience. It must be the right audience. An audience that matters.

Someone who just started a new job is setting themselves up for success, and that includes two key components: building relationships and delivering results, says David Levine, COO at BerlinRosen in New York City. Building relationships is critical for both personal happiness and satisfaction, and professionally to develop partners, allies, sources and validators. Delivering results is critical to validate the selection of your candidacy into the role, and to set you up with the social capital, clout and buy-in needed to successfully take on future challenges, expand or enhance the opportunities available for you and to set yourself up for future growth.

Lean into your new job and extract the most out of the experience. Bring these goals with you on your first day at the office. Youll find more satisfaction in your new job and more success.

See the rest here:
Bring These Three Goals To Your First Day Of Work - Forbes