Paul Sizemore

This book was broken into three sections: Etiquette, Relationships, and You. 

Rule 1) When it comes to making a great impression at work, take action immediately

• Think reputation not impression: your reputation is a series of impressions.

• Strong introductions count: Take your time and make a list of people you want to meet. 

• Get comfortable breaking the ice: Know why you want to meet the person. Have something to give to them. 

• Outclass the competition with a polished look.

• Create a long-term plan to ensure ongoing reputation success: It’s your attitude that keeps your reputation going in the right direction. Show that you care about the job at hand. Listen to constructive criticism, and take action on it. Your attitude is reflected in everything. 

Rule 2) Dazzle them with a fork: Manners do matter, and when someone asks you to lunch, it’s not about the food. Be a good conversationalist. 

Rule 3) Use the meeting to showcase your strengths.

• Do your homework. Who is going to attend? What is the agenda? 

• Show up early to get the seat you want, be proactive, and follow-up. 

• Get invited to the right meetings by taking responsibility. 

• Be prepared for impromptu meetings; have some ideas in your pocket.

• Create emails that get read

• Avoid bad emails

• Understand why they aren’t reading your emails. Create a strong subject line. 

• Play it safe with IM at work

• Deal with difficult communications. Escalate to the Manager or HR when someone crosses that line. With the oversharer, let them know that there are other people that are more qualified to talk to them about what they are talking about. With the people that need to prove their intelligence, use as little words as possible, don’t give them what they need. With the Cubical Invader, let them know what your boundaries are, because they don’t pick up as fast as others. Pass the buck when you are dealing with a Whiner. 

• Forming & maintaining relationships are the most important thing for your career

• Having a deliberate & systemic approach to meeting the right people 

• Avoid common blunders: Keep in touch with the right people (this demonstrates the commitment to the relationship and builds trust). If you make a ask, be specific, not ‘do you have any jobs there.’ Protect your time from the networking opportunities that you don’t want; don’t be a serial networker (going after everything). Organize gatherings. 

• Be available to people, and invite them places. They will get to know you on their own schedule. 

• Build a circle of contacts by having conversation after conversation. 

Layer 1) Tell friends, family and friends about your goals/objectives

Layer 2) Reach out to coworkers, clients, business to learn more about your industry

Layer 3) Reach out to alumni from programs that interest you

Layer 4) Contact former supervisor & coworkers to update them on what you are doing now

Layer 5) Reach out to people in journals, blogs, associations

• Break down the process into five stages: the gathering stage, the emailing stage, the follow up stage, the meeting stage, the thanking stage

• Stay on the radar screen. Periodic emails. Do research and send it out. Invite people to events. 

• Get to know each other the right way. Listen and observe the person. Sync up to the manager. Learn how and when they are stressed. This will let you know when to approach them. Look for the major pain points. Your manager needs to know three things about you: you are ready to contribute, you appreciate the opportunity to learn from them, that you want to make their life easier. 

• Manage the manager. The Micromanager needs a lot of updates, to reassure them. Leave voicemail, detailed emails, daily updates. If the manager is absentee, get them to agree to weekly meetings and get her to sign off on stuff. 

Ways to say no to a manager: Offer to come up with other ways to accomplish the work, ask the manager to prioritize, ask for more help. 

• Be the employee loved by the manager. Gain the manager’s respect. let them learn to count on you. Know what really matters to the manager. Do the job you were hired for. If you want to get to the next level, ask “What do I need to do to get there?” Admit what you don’t know. 

• Avoid relationship breaking mistakes. Show patience. Don’t lack courage and confidence. 

• Become a master of the employee-manager relationship. Help the manager look good. Doing good work helps you and the manager. Don’t forget to keep a written accomplishment log. 

• Self promotion means mastering the concepts behind getting ahead

Self promotion means mastering the concepts behind getting ahead. It’s the savvy wheel that gets the grease. Define success, and only success can promote a good product. Success means showing enthusiasm. 

• Make self promotion a habit on the job

Advertise yourself. Share testimonials. Measure your progress with facts and figures. Managers are moved by numbers. Keep track of your accomplishments. Conduct meaningful research. 

• Avoid self promotion disasters. Be the best product you can be. Be visible. 

• Self promote where it matters most. Do an annual review. 

• Don’t let misery cloud your mind when it comes to jumping ship

• Begin your next career chapter with a job search that brings results

• Develop marketing materials that break through

• Fix what isn’t working to Land a job you love