by Jennifer Merritt
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Relevant advice? Sure. But it's also obvious, and not necessarily the best way to stand out from the crowd. What you need is a revolutionary get-ahead strategy, even if it seems strange at first because it involves peanut butter and jelly.
Sandwich Solutions
Chris Komisarjevsky is chief executive emeritus at Burson-Marsteller, a leading New York City-based public relations and public affairs firm. He's also a father to nine children. While it may seem that running a PR business and raising children wouldn't have much in common, Komisarjevsky and his wife Reina found otherwise, so they wrote a book, "Peanut Butter and Jelly Management: Tales from Parenthood Lessons for Managers" (Amacom, 2004). In it the Komisarjevskys detail how being a good manager -- or demonstrating your capability to be a good manager -- requires many of the same skills as being a good parent.
"There are a lot of lessons to be found in unexpected places," Chris says. "What we see is the way people behave and the way the kids behave and we made the connection. That's not to say employees should be treated like children, but if we stop and listen, perhaps we can learn from some other parts of our lives."
As an example, Chris refers to chapter 14 of his book, where his then seven-year-old son Nicholas stomped around in a garbage can at school. When his teacher asked why, he replied, "Because - it's a free country," thus warranting him lunchtime detention.
"That's a wise guy response," Chris admits. "When you make a mistake you need to step up." So, just as Nicholas admitted fault and apologized to his teacher, take advantage of mistakes made at work as an opportunity to stand apart from the crowd.
"I think in the work environment, people try to blame someone else for things that went wrong," he says. "Let's acknowledge the mistake and move on. You can't get very far if you don't acknowledge the mistake. It's a very important lesson in life."
Historical "Cents"
Remember the old cliché, "History repeats itself?" According to Andrea R. Nierenberg, author of "Nonstop Networking: How to Improve Your Life, Luck and Career" (Capital Books, 2002), when it comes to capitalizing on important lessons that lead to success, such reoccurrence is a good thing.
"People seemed to have it right in the past," she says. Andrea believes there is a lot to be learned about networking from history books, especially from our forefathers. "They were givers first."
"I'm a believer of the personal note," Andrea says. So much so that she refers to the simple task as her "the 37-cent investment plan." She points out Thomas Jefferson's reputation for correspondence - he was known for writing 1,000 letters a year - as one of his winning characteristics. "Letter writing is a forgotten art," she points out. "It sticks out in people's minds."
Andrea says it's those kinds of basic people skills that can help you advance on the job. She makes it a point to send thank-you notes - the old-fashioned, handwritten ones - although when all else fails, email suffices, she advises. What's key is forging a personal connection - something she feels distinguishes her from others. After all, everyone likes to feel appreciated. And, when it's a leadership position you're seeking, it's nice to be surrounded by those who thrive on your ability to communicate praise.
Learn to Lead
Some would say that leaders are born, not made. William A. Cohen, Ph.D., retired major general of the U.S. Air Force, would beg to differ. "Leadership can be learned," he says. "It's a matter of not only having the qualities [of a leader], but knowing what to do."
And William believes there's no better place to learn leadership than from the military, particularly from the elite few elected to special operations. In his book "Secrets of Special Ops Leadership" (Amacom, September 2005), William details how the principles of U.S.'s most unique fighting forces can teach you how to exemplify yourself as a leader.
"These [men and women] are in high risk situations with limited resources," he says of those placed in special ops. "They're different, and we can learn from them in terms of business."
William says that special ops frequently do things others may consider impossible - such as finding Jessica Lynch or capturing Saddam Hussein. He cites the story of Major Gregory "Pappy" Boyington as a prime example. As a fighter pilot during World War II, Boyington convinced his superiors to let him create a fighter squadron, known as VMF 214, to fight the Japanese. Originally, the squadron was temporary, but in the 12 weeks VMF 214 was in combat, the squadron destroyed a record-breaking 94 fighters and went on to become one of the Marine Corps' best squadrons.
"Within a few days, he turned [the squadron] around," William explains. "He made the most of what he had." By "daring the impossible" Pappy led himself and consequentially, others, to success. So even if you're a long shot for a promotion at work, ask the boss to consider you - it will show you're ambitious and anxious for more responsibility. Or like Pappy, suggest creating a task force to temporarily fill the void left by the open position. You boss will not only be impressed by your ambition, but your desire to lead as well.
Ready, Willing, and Succeeding
A willingness to learn how to lead was what drove Aretha Rhone Bush to pursue the nontraditional pathway of online study. When she was working as an assistant principal at Hilton Head High School (Hilton Head, SC), Aretha saw the opportunity she'd been waiting for -- one that would not only enhance her career, but ultimately her education, too.
"I saw the proposal for the bond referendum to build a [new] school," she says. "When I was hired as an assistant principal, I told my principal I wanted the opportunity to lead the school."
That's one of the reasons why, after leading a 55-member committee through the design and build process of Bluffton High School (Beaufort, SC), a state-of-the-art technology school, Aretha was unanimously chosen as its principal. Then 34, she became one of the youngest high school principals in South Carolina.
Now 35, Aretha is pursuing her Ph.D. in elementary and secondary administration through Capella University's online program. While getting her Ph.D. was always a goal for Rhone-Bush, she never would have guessed she'd earn it in cyberspace.
"I needed to find a way I could obtain my career goals and still participate as an active practitioner in education," she says. "[Now] I feel everyone should be an online learner," she says with a laugh.
Aretha is only half-kidding. Thanks to her online pursuit of higher ed, she was inspired to integrate online learning into her high school. This past January, her juniors and seniors are able to take a government and economy course strictly online -- no classroom or formal desk required.
One Tough Lunch
Richard "Bo" Dietl certainly didn't learn the traditional way. A self-made man, Dietl's ready to let the world in on his success secrets in his new book, "Business Lunchatations: How an Everyday Guy Became One of America's Most Powerful CEOs. And How You Can, Too!" (Penguin Group, 2005). Bo and his co-author, Bob Bly, discuss creative ways to advance, not just professionally, but monetarily as well.
Many know Richard "Bo" Dietl as the New York police detective who not only talked the tough talk, but walked the tough walk, too. During his career with the NYPD, Bo was responsible for over 1,500 felony arrests and a 95 percent conviction rate that inspired the 1998 movie, "One Tough Cop" starring Stephen Baldwin and Gina Gershon. After he retired from the force, Bo founded Beau Dietl and Associates, which specializes in corporate investigations for major international companies.
Dietl's "catalyst strategy" says you don't have to invent a new widget to get rich - you just have to own a piece of it.
"My role as a business catalyst is to keep an eye out for those shared and complementary interests, and facilitate the introductions that begin relationships between the multiple parties," Bo writes. "What it does is allow me to generate revenues beyond the companies and products that I actually own and produce. It works because of the tremendous network of contracts that I work nearly full-time to build."
The idea is similar to networking, and even if no deal is made, Bo says at the very least, arranging a meeting opens up possibilities for future negotiations. So, even if you don't land that big account at work, keep the company's objective in mind - introducing them to another firm with similar goals could prove beneficial for you when it comes to promotions and your pocket.
Exercise and Temper Tantrums?
Plenty of other people are doing the same and cashing in, like Jake Steinfeld, celebrity trainer and founder of Body By Jake in his new book, "I've Seen a Lot of Famous People Naked, and They've Got Nothing On You (Amacom, September 2005)!" Using himself as an example, Jake divulges how everyone is the same underneath it all. Just like with diet and exercise, all it takes is a dedicated effort to be successful in business.
Likewise, in his book "How to Negotiate Like a Child" (Amacom, October 2005), Bill Adler, Jr. explores how throwing tantrums, acting irrationally, and pretending you don't understand what the other side is saying can help you get everything you want. Think about it: When it comes to cajoling, sweet-talking, and arguing, children are the best, so why not learn a thing or two from their playground?
Bottom line? If you find yourself stuck in a dead-end job, or stagnant in your current job, take the Komisarjevskys' advice: Look for get-ahead lessons in unexpected places.
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