Office Party Etiquette: Drinking Like a Fish

Today we continue advising you poor souls still walking the corporate halls on how to nail office party etiquette. Sad, but true, you must get along with your co-workers and you must wear more than a bathrobe to work. I feel for you, I really do….

So . . . you’re known to enjoy a beverage or two from time-to-time. Okay….

You’re known to enjoy a beverage or ten . . .

OUCH!

What you do at your holiday office party is strangely treated as “typical” behavior. And unfortunately for many careers, much of this behavior is somehow caught on film. It used to be that people used cameras. Now everyone and their monkey thinks it’s clever to video . . . everything.

You can’t stop the YouTube monkeys.

The consequence of all that footage is a surprising glut of material. The unintended consequence is that a future employer can google you, which he/she WILL DO, and he/she will find the ONE time you were a total jack-a** at your company’s holiday party. You will be forever labeled as a drunk/idiot/out-of-control wreck, etc.

Don’t believe me? Read the Financial Times Career column, this question comes up all the time from potential employers. It goes something like this:

I googled our best candidate for the new position and found a picture of her in a leather outfit. Everyone in the office saw her photo and they now call her the S&M girl. Now everyone is talking about her. I’m afraid if I do hire her that she won’t be taken seriously. What do you recommend….

No kidding, that was a real one from 2008, maybe 2007. The responses form other employers made it so memorable to me that I share it here. The reality is, that candidate just got the smack down because of a Halloween photo. THAT IS TOTALLY UNFAIR, but that’s the way it goes. Everyone recommended that she not be hired. Even though she was the top candidate prior to the photo discovery.

We are human beings, not logical creatures. If we were based on logic, we wouldn’t watch sports and we wouldn’t buy 99% of the junk that gets sold to us. Men and Women alike.

So, acknowledge that you share this planet with other human beings and all of our glorious frailties. When you are tempted to have another drink at your holiday party . . .

Stop at 2 for the ladies, 3 for the gentlemen. You’re being watched by your bosses and your bosses spouses. Remember, the losers have nothing better to do than to talk about your transgressions later and if one of them is feeling left behind (usually a corporate wifey), watch your back.

See the ridiculous tattoos that your mother warned you against….

Office Party Etiquette Gem from the Past

Put on those party shoes, but leave the drinking liver at home. Remember you’ll be judged not just by your behavior at the party, but by your behavior leaving the party. If you are wobbly, call a friend or CALL A CAB. Seriously. Please. To save your precious tush and your career.

XOXO,
-Miss Mentor

Behind the scenes with entrepreneurs – April Braswell

It’ finally here! – A one-on-one interview with April Braswell, relationship expert and online dating coach.  In this first part, we’ll hear how she was able to develop herself into the entrepreneurial woman she is today. This will be a 7-parter, so if you enjoy please keep checking back for more.

Also a little side note, this is my first video. So please be kind . Any suggestions to improve the video are welcomed. To begin the video, click on the link below.

Behind the Scenes with Entrepreneurs

Behind the scenes of being an entrepreneur

I recently interviewed April Braswell – Dating Expert and Online Dating Coach – as well as lost my IPOD. These may seem like 2 unrelated events, but with the loss of my IPOD I’ve been consequently listening to music less. I really do miss having a soundtrack to my life, but with less music blaring in my ears, my brain has made room for more thoughts. Substantial thoughts -thoughts that I had previously pushed to the back of my mind so I could blast more CSS in my ears and work out.

The main thought has been planting seeds.

Not the farming kind, but the figurative kind. Seeds that you plant today (mini-wealth building projects, acquiring new skills, building relationships with others, etc..) that will one day lead to bear fruit or not. In my interview with April, I aimed to pick the mind of an entrepreneur and see how she viewed herself as well her path to success. Her humble and warm nature made her easy to relate to, and she really showed that the word “CEO” or “President” are just words for people who’ve failed constantly but kept going.

She also emphasized the benefits of sowing many seeds. Plenty of seeds give you more chance of bearing more fruit, and like farming, not all seeds will turnout worth while. The ones that do will be the wealth builders, and the ones that don’t will be the learning experiences.

I love this philosophy, but applying it is a different thing. Her words definitely gave me some lingering thoughts. For instance, after I’ve chosen my “seeds” and planted them, how do I know when to keep going and when to see that the seed just won’t produce? I can be too persistent at times, but I guess that is part of the learning process.

I think I may just wait a bit longer to get a new IPOD. One because I am allowing myself a proper mourning  for my music. And two so that I can keep these thoughts growing and come up with a formula to success which will work for me. In the meantime, keep a look out for April’s interview and her advice on how to be an entrepreneur and her path to success – coming Tuesday, October 6th!

Can you handle the truth?

So in the vein of Jack Nicholson’s famous rant, “…You can’t handle the truth!” I share the following:

“The cost of failure, successful people know from experience, is very modest compared to the cost of inaction. Failure means you are smarter the next time. Inaction means there is no next time. There is only a lifetime of unhappiness – first of worry and then of regret.” – Michael Masterson
Don’t make a life of regret. Take action.

I recently had an Aunt chide me for not having a “real job.” I suppose she meant working for someone else, but the reality is, I have 3 employees who depend on me not having a “real job.” For what it’s worth, my family can’t understand that I am actually really enjoying self employment – one of the perils of an academic and professional (i.e. lawyers and doctors) family.

So if you are considering a blast into your own entrepreneurial adventure, I whole-heartedly support you. Do make the proper preparations, but once you have, damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead! Get to it!

Want to read more of Masterson’s work? Try his ezine Early to Rise or one of his books on Amazon.

How to Be an Entrepreneur – Angel Investors

YOU SPOKE! One of the clearest survey results that came was an interest in entrepreneurship. While I don’t believe one can teach another, “How to be an Entrepreneur,” I can share the interviews I have collected over the past few years and the information I use to refine my own approach. To that end, let’s start with a conversation about Angel Investing.

Angel Investors are the bridge between funding from your friends and family and the Venture Capital investors. Some Angel Investors will offer money for an equity stake while others will offer a loan that usually requires a smaller equity stake ultimately. For example, one deal I am considering right now (casual terms):

Choice A: I relinquish 20% of the equity for a 30% infusion, provide a preferred annual return of 10% and payback the original investment in 3 years. The 20% equity remains in the hands of the Angel Investors.

Choice B: The Angels receive 51% of the current equity today for an infusion of 30%, receive a 10% preferred annual return and principal payback over 3 years. As the principal is repaid, the equity stakes are reconfigured. Once all principal is repaid, the Angel Investors retain a 5% interest in the company with no preferred return – dividends only if we pay them.

That second one looks a little crazy, but this is an acquisition so the angels will be providing a guarantee on the bank note that covers the other 70% of the purchase price. Since the current owner is willing to finance the purchase and the company is very cash flow positive, I will probably do a multi-step Management Buyout instead. If you have other thoughts, please do share!

The point at which you consider seeking Angel Investors is when you are very serious about the growth of your company, you have studied thoroughly the capital needed to grow your company and you have exhausted your friends and family. For most, this is about the time you need $250,000 or more. It is also after you have developed the beta product/service to the point that you can show some kind of result.

If all you have is an idea, PLEASE, do not start pitching – save your energy, but do start meeting potential investors: angels and VCs. Get some proof of concept before you do any pitches. I prefer to see a customer list – people who have purchased or pre-purchased already. At the very least, a list of people willing to commit to a purchase when the product is done. If you can do that, you can sail through funding rounds.

Then again, if you are a serious Entrepreneur, you know that your number 1 task is to sell your product or service. Don’t wait to have sales staff or a sales force. Get out there and SELL!

Want a good, quick read from a serious Angel Investor? How to be an Entrepreneur – Angel Investors (this link takes you to another site). Who knew Twitter could be so useful! You can follow me on twitter: Miss Mentor .