The Skills Of Professional Networking

The Skills Of Professional Networking Professional Networking is a widely used skill that many people lack. There are four main steps that a person must focus on while trying to build an effective professional network. The first step in building an effective professional network is to contact businesses in the best possible way. Next, it is extremely important to build an individual relationship with each business. Giving an effective presentation is the third step. The last and ongoing step is to maintain the current relationship while expanding the network to new contacts. There are many benefits to professional networking. Having an outstanding professional network can lead to ultimate success. Better jobs and stronger support can come from this. There are many different ways that a person can build an effective profession network. This leads to the essential question. Essential Question How does a person build an effective professional network? Supporting Questions What is the best way to contact businesses? What is the best way to build an individual relationship with each business? What is the most effective way to give a presentation? What is the best way to maintain the current relationships while expanding the network to new contacts? What is the best way to contact businesses? It is impossible to build a relationship without first having contact with any businesses. Beverly Newton, Nebraska FBLA State Adviser, Career Field Specialist, Communication and Information Systems, claimed, The best way to contact a business is through a personal contact from someone you know who has recommended a specific name in the business to contact. It is also appropriate to write a letter to the name recommended to you and then indicate that you will follow-up the letter with a phone call (personal e-mail, December 20, 2010). In retrospect, the first and most important step for someone who wants to contact businesses is to work towards building connections through networking. However, if a person was not knowledgeable enough to start early, there is still hope for them. For someone who is just starting, they need to focus on friends and family. In making personal contacts, the person must start small with the businesses closest to him or her. This is extremely important because as Lao-tzu (2004) said, A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step (para. 1) Taking these small steps will lead to future success. Randall Hansen (2010) from Quintessential Careers states, There is probably not an easier way to expand your network than to simply ask your current friends, family, and associations for the contact information of others whom they think would be beneficial for you to know. The friend-of-a-friend connection is quite strong and usually very successful (para. 4). Once these smaller contacts have been established, it is time to use them to enlarge the network. Every business will be related to many other businesses in some way. Be sure to use these previous connections to expand and make new connections. Peoples previous contacts can be e xtremely important for future development. There are numerous ways to contact businesses. The most prolific way is to begin at an early age and build contacts throughout an entire lifetime. Since everyone knows someone else, the friend-of-a-friend connection is the best possible method to attain contacts. But, just because there are these contacts, does not necessarily mean that they will be willing to negotiate. It is extremely important to write a professional business letter to each business. This format consists of a heading, the date, the opening, the body, and then a conclusion. After the conclusion, a farewell and a signature with the name and title printed below should be included. In these letters, the writer needs to sound sincere and professional. The contactor should be sure to ask for support from the business, not a monetary donation. Following these steps will result in many business contacts. What is the best way to build an individual relationship with each business? Contacting is easy, but the truly skilled will develop a relationship with each business they contact. A contact is just establishing of communication with someone or receiving of a significant signal from a person or object (Guralnik, 1970, p. 306). However, a relationship is a significant connection or similarity between two or more things (Guralnik, 1970, p. 1198). Matthew Moran (2010) thinks, One of the most pressing challenges with networking effectively is that many professionals never take the time to go where such relationships can happen (para. 21). This is important because in order to make a sustainable professional network, there must be a relationship to keep the network alive. Newton stated, It is important for the business to understand what purpose you have for them. The business usually wants to do something other than donate money (personal e-mail, December 20, 2010). When attempting to build an individual relationship, it is essential to know the business purpose. A business representative will not be swayed to donate their support if the contactor does not even know how the business can be used. Having an organized and detailed plan is extremely important, as well as sounding professional, sincere, personable, and confident. Doing these things will create a strong one-on-one bond with each business. What is the most effective way to give a presentation? Once the door is opened with a relationship, it is time to slam the door shut and strike up a deal with a presentation. Giving an effective presentation can be extremely difficult. Darrell Zahorsky has eight secrets to a knockout business presentation. These eight steps are: dig deep, avoid info overload, practice delivery, forget comedy, pick powerful props, minimize you, speak the language, and use simple slides (Zahorsky, 2010). Mastering these secrets can be extremely difficult and may require practice. Great presenters give their presentations numerous times to a plethora of audiences for practice before they give their polished show. However, a good presentation in itself will not be effective without further details. The presenter needs to be dressed in proper attire to give a professional look. This consists of a business suit for both men and women. Presenters must be there early in order to ensure that their equipment is running properly and to introduce themselves to the companys business leaders. What is the best way to maintain the current relationships while expanding the network to new contacts? After closing the deal with an amazing presentation, be sure to keep the door locked by maintaining the relationship and open new doorways by expanding to new contacts. Follow-up with the business is important by connecting with the business at least twice during the year. (B. Newton, personal e-mail, December 20, 2010). After making a connection, establishing a relationship, and giving an effective presentation, it is extremely important to maintain each and every relationship. Jennifer Vo (2010) declared, Never burn a bridge because no matter how big the industry is, companies within an industry often keep in close contact with one another (para. 5). The next step is to expand the network to new contacts. This whole process acts as a cycle. Since a lot of work has already been done, it is advised to reuse the letters that were previously written. Sometimes things need to be tweaked a little bit for improvement. Be sure to update all of the documents so they are viable. The final step of maintaining the current relationships, while expanding the network to new contacts, is extremely important. Since relationships take so much time and effort, no relationship can afford to be lost. Also, expansion is a necessity. A network without growth is the same as a dying network. How does a person build an effective professional network? There are many steps that must occur in order to build a professional network. These steps play out as a never-ending cycle. The first step is to contact the businesses. The friend-of-a-friend connection is the best possible method to attain contacts. Next, build an individual relationship with each business. Remember to have a purpose for each business. Also, there needs to be extra steps taken to reach this higher level. Giving an effective presentation is the third step. Be confident, dress appropriately, and practice, practice, practice. Lastly, it is a necessity to maintain the current relationships while expanding the network to new contacts. Every network needs to continue to grow by attaining new contacts; previous relationships also need to be maintained. All-in-all, communication is essential. Each of the four steps heavily incorporates communication as the most important piece. This communication is done through many forms, including verbal, written, and nonverbal. The contactor must be polished in every area in order to ensure his or her success. It is imperative to proofread each letter, practice each presentation, and send a professional message through physical appearance. When building an effective professional network remember to follow these four main steps: contact the businesses, build an individual relationship, give an effective presentation, and maintain the current relationships while expanding the network to new contacts. Following these steps will create a strong professional network for the practicing individual. The network established will be a helpful tool that can be employed throughout an entire lifetime. A single individual can build an effective professional network by utilizing basic communication skills and establishing business relationships. Annotated Bibliography Hansen, R. S. Ph. D. (2010, November 4). How to build and expand your career network: 10 proven techniques. Retrieved from http://www.quintcareers.com/expanding_career_network.html. This source was useful because it stated that using friends, family, and associations create strong connections. It also introduced the friend-of-a-friend connection that I referred back to several times throughout my paper. This source was very reliable and was extremely helpful. Guralnik, D. B. (Ed.). (1970). Websters new world dictionary of the American language. (p. 306 1198, 2nd ed.). New York, NY: The World Publishing Company. I used this to state the definitions of contact and relationship. This was important to my paper because I use both of these words numerous times. There is also a need to clarify the difference between the two. Moran, M. (2006, July 21). Professional networking made easy: priming the pump. Retrieved from http://www.ciscopress.com/articles/printerfriendly.asp?p=486105. This source explains the importance of building a relationship to keep a professional network alive. Without the information provided by this source my statements would not have any support. Tzu, L. (2004, September 1). The quotations page: classic quotes. Retrieved from http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/24004.html. I used this quote to back up my statement about making personal contacts with people who are close to them. I also said how everyone has to start off small, so this quote works hand-in-hand with what I said. Vo, J. (2010, February 15). How to start networking: the best ways to expand a professional network. Retrieved from http://www.suite101.com/content/how-to-start-networking-a198785. I used this resource to back myself up when I was talking about the importance of maintaining each and every relationship. Zahorsky, D. (2010). 8 secrets to a knockout business presentation. Retrieved from http://sbinformation.about.com/od/sales/a/presentationtip.htm?p=1. This resource defined the eight steps of giving an effective business presentation. This was extremely important because one of my supporting questions was completely about how to give an effective business presentation.

American Civil War Essay

Many sources claim that the American Civil War is one of the most frequently written about topic in American history, and in that, the individuals who led both sides of the epic struggle have been immortalized in print as well. A pivotal work that meets both of these criteria is â€Å"A Long Shadow: Jefferson Davis and the Final Days of the Confederacy†, by Michael B. Ballard. In writing this book, Ballard sought not only to provide a factual account of the 1865 retreat of the government of the Confederate States of America from its capital city of Richmond, Virginia, just ahead of the conquering United States troops with particular emphasis on the leader of the CSA, Jefferson Davis. This book review will not only put forth compelling reasons why students and casual readers alike should choose this book, but also a brief summary of the book and a discussion of the themes found within the book. It almost goes without saying that any book worth reviewing should be worth reading, Ballard’s book being no exception. The work is worthwhile for the reader- be it a student or Civil War enthusiast- because it is as much an account of an often-neglected part of a massively researched and discussed portion of American history, but also because the book is a tale of human experience, political differences, and the clashing of two ways of life which ultimately would only allow for one of the ways of life to move forward from that point intact. First, the book goes into detail about the man behind the CSA, President Jefferson Davis. Ballard uses vivid imagery to describe the frail appearance of Davis by the spring of 1865, due in large part to the strain that was being placed on him to guide a new nation, and especially a massive army, in the face of a highly motivated and larger, better equipped US armed force , which in a very short time would crush Davis’ army and entire government, culminating in the formal surrender of the CSA on April 9, 1865. The book then moves forward with accounts of the military maneuvers, commanders and defeats that made up the waning days of the Confederacy itself. By looking beneath the text of â€Å"A Long Shadow†, it is possible to gain a better understanding of the underlying themes of the book, leading to a much better understanding and appreciation of the work itself. Perhaps the most prominent theme of this book is the struggle of human spirit to overcome insurmountable odds to achieve a given end. For Jefferson Davis, his all consuming goal was to see his Confederate States of America gain recognition and independence not only from the United States, but also the other nations of the world, from whom Davis and his fellow officials sought diplomatic relations and nation status. The other theme that is a common thread in Ballard’s book is perseverance when one believes that their cause is just. It can definitely be argued that both the US and CSA felt in their heart of hearts that what they were fighting for was not only right, but the absolute correct course of human events. Indeed, both sides of the conflict claimed that God was on their side and felt that He would see them to victory no matter what. Perhaps this sort of divine protection is what kept Jefferson Davis constantly trying to keep his cause going, even to the point where Davis himself was at the point of collapse and his nation lay in shambles. In conclusion, it can fairly be said that this book is worthy of being considered one of the most relevant works on the topics of Jefferson Davis, the Confederate States of America, and the final days of the American Civil War as well as an epic tale of human endurance, struggle, triumph and defeat. Works Cited Ballard, Michael B. 1986. A Long Shadow: Jefferson Davis and the Final Days of the Confederacy. Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi.

An Exploration of the ways Shakespeare dramatises Essay

Shakespeare’s portrayal of teenage experience in Romeo and Juliet is one of the most well known and often imitated in existence, and this is because of how well he captures some of it’s aspects – the idea of first love, isolation and rebellion – but with enough melodrama and exaggeration to make it the basis for entertainment on stage. Despite being written nearly half a millennia ago, Shakespeare’s play is still studied in schools today because so much of the subject matter is still relevant – the star crossed lovers are as much at home in modern Miami in Baz Luhrman’s film adaptation as they are in feudal Verona – and while the details may have changed, Romeo and Juliet would lead us to conclude that teenage experience in particular has many of the same elements now as it did in Shakespearean times. Romeo and Juliet are a pair of love-struck teenagers trapped between their desire to be together and the long and bloody feud between their families. However the play begins as Romeo is pining for another girl he professes to be in love with, Rosaline. She represents the petrarchan ideal; an unattainable woman Romeo idolises and rarefies, who his love for is unrequited – a direct contrast with the immediate mutual amorousness he and Juliet share. Here, Shakespeare chooses to depict teenage love as melodramatic, superficial and fickle. Romeo seems to almost obsess over Rosaline, though only upon her good looks and the fact that she has decided to ‘remain chaste’ despite his advances upon her. In scene one of Act one, Romeo bombards Benvolio with a torrent of oxymorons – â€Å"O brawling love, O loving hate! † – to describe the depression and emotional turmoil his love for Rosaline is causing inside him, a girl whom he barely knows but says is â€Å"†¦ rich in beauty†. Romeo describes being in love as being a weight upon him, in act one scene one love is a â€Å"heavy lightness† and a â€Å"feather of lead†, and then in scene four before entering the Capulet’s masked ball he says he has â€Å"a soul of lead†. In spite of this, later when he sneaks into the Capulet’s garden to see Juliet, he describes himself as having â€Å"love’s light wings† further contrasting his love for Juliet against his previous feelings for Rosaline, showing this is a different, higher form of love. In a moment of male camaraderie, Mercutio jokes with Romeo, implying the heavy weight he feels is that which lovers feel on each other during intercourse, and suggests he â€Å"borrow cupid’s wings†. After he meets Juliet the language he uses changes, and becomes far less coarse and less fraught with innuendo – later, they talk in sonnet and rhyme each other’s lines in order to show there is a deeper connection between them. As they share their first kiss, both Romeo and Juliet’s speech becomes rich with religious imagery â€Å"For saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch, and palm to palm is holy palmers kiss† presenting their love here as something spiritual and sacred, and after the kiss Romeo even says â€Å"my sin is purged†, likening it to a divine and religious experience. The idea of love is shown from a completely different perspective in act one scene two, as Capulet and Count Paris discuss arranging a marriage between him and Juliet. Capulet shows a level of kindness and understanding which he seems to lose later in the play, as he says it is Juliet’s decision whether she marries and that it would be a mistake for her to marry so young, â€Å"too soon marred are those early made† although this could mean spoiled by childbirth, increasing the degree to which Juliet is treated like an object in the conversation. Paris comes off as being rather shamelessly lecherous, as he protests Capulet stating that Juliet is a child and too young to be married by saying â€Å"Younger than she are happy mothers made†. Even without the war between their families, it is clear that there are heavy societal constraints burdening both Romeo and Juliet, especially regarding their relationships with their parents. Juliet doesn’t get along with her mother, and when in the play she is told she must marry Paris she pleads with her mother to try and stop it she is met with a withering verbal blow, â€Å"Talk not to me, for I’ll not speak a word†¦ I have done with thee. † Clearly her relationship with her mother isn’t very strong, unlike her relationship with her nurse. In Act three scene one Lady Capulet asks the nurse to fetch Juliet so she may broach the subject of marriage with her, and it is obvious from the nurse’s fawning over Juliet and the way she talks about her that they are much closer than Juliet and her mother, and the nurse says â€Å"I might live to see thee married once, I have my wish. † – vocalising an ambition usually held by a mother to see her own daughter married, making the disparity between Lady Capulet’s cold and clinical appraisal of the situation and the nurses bawdy, vulgar one even more noticeable. The nurse is genial and kind and has a penchant for making coarse remarks and often makes them without realising it, when Lady Capulet says marrying Paris will make Juliet â€Å"no less† the nurse agrees saying â€Å"No less? Nay, bigger! Women grow by men. † She is a role model for Juliet and gives her advice and counsel, but her irresponsibility is shown when after goading Juliet on with her relationship with Romeo and facilitating their marriage, following Romeo’s exile she completely changes her mind and advises Juliet to marry Paris: â€Å"Since the case stands as now it doth, I think it best you married with the County† She realises she has made a mistake encouraging Juliet and had not fully thought about the consequences. Romeo shares a similar relationship with Friar Lawrence, except more of one of two close friends than a father and son. Romeo is never on stage with either of his parents at any time during the play; his absence demonstrates both an inability to communicate and show of teenage rebellion. He rejects them and the society and responsibilities they represent in favour of the Friar’s advice – which while often more sensible than the Nurse’s and driven by his naiveti in hoping to unite the families by encouraging Romeo and Juliet to marry, is still irresponsible.

The Economic Crisis Of 1997 - 902 Words

The Indonesian economic crises that emerged out of the greater Asian Financial Crises of 1997 is often presented as an example of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) project that created problems for the receiving nation. As the video Globalization at a Crossroads stated in its final words, â€Å"It supported the case that economic globalization actually increased economic instability.† Indeed, there were immediate, and in some cases, irreversible consequences of the IMF’s intervention into Indonesia’s economy. Examples of negative consequences included riots, massive inflation and contraction in the economy (Shari, 1998). However, through the lens of the current Indonesian economy, almost 20 years later, IMF intervention may have eventually worked as intended, as the country has demonstrated economic stability and growth through several more contemporary economic crises. In the beginning of the IMF’s intervention in Indonesia, it seemed as though the IMF could do nothing right. On multiple occasions, Suharto, Indonesia’s dictator, had upstaged and embarrassed the IMF and IMF officials. The embarrassment hit a high note on May 14th, 1998 when riots and fires ran the remaining IMF delegation out of the country, but not before they were shaken down by immigration officials in exchange for food and water (Shari, 1998). As Michael Shari reported in Business Week in 1998, the IMF’s faith in Suharto as a trustworthy and capable leader was severely flawed. At first, â€Å"Suharto†¦wonShow MoreRelated The 1997 and 1998 Asian Economic Crisis Essay2324 Words   |  10 PagesThe 1997 and 1998 Asian Economic Crisis The purpose of this paper is to explore the causes of the 1997 and 1998 Asian economic crisis; and to research the effects of the crisis in each of the following categories: 1. The effects of the crisis in the countries involved in the economic crisis of 1997-98. 2. The effects on the governments affected by the crash, and 3. The effects that the Asian crisis has had on the differing world markets as well as the effects that it will continue to haveRead MoreThoughts Of The Asian Crisis1211 Words   |  5 PagesPaper Thoughts of the Asian Crisis (1997-1998) In the period between 1997 to 1998, a great economic storm blew the some fast-developing countries, especially Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. They had great economic development before the crisis, but left almost everything at the end of the storm. The most obvious impact of the crisis is the capital outflows and currency devaluation. So, people in those developing countries began to find who should be responding to the crisis. International speculatorsRead MoreSouth Korea s Economic Crisis1534 Words   |  7 PagesBetween 1990 and 1996, South Korea experienced strong economic growth ever since South Korea was separated from North Korea. As the data of South Korea economy from World Bank web provides, Average growth rate was around 8 percent and inflation rate averaged 5 percent. Moreover, unemployment rate was stable below 3 percent (citation use footnote or endnote). Until 1997, Korea was one of miracle East Asian countries that grew up incredibly faster than that of other Asia n countries. Others believedRead MoreImpact Of The Asian Financial Crisis Of 1997 On The Region s Development1704 Words   |  7 PagesFinancial Crisis of 1997 on the region’s development â€Å"Since World war II, development has been the most important term used to describe economic, social and political changes in what have come to be known as Third world countries† (Zhang, 2003). The Asian financial crisis of 1997 had a major impact on the regions development as it was the end of the East Asian economic miracle, a time that showed staggering economic growth throughout the Asia Pacific. However, despite evidence that the economic developmentRead MoreThoughts Of The Asian Crisis1207 Words   |  5 Pages Thoughts of the Asian Crisis (1997-1998) In the period between 1997 to 1998, a great economic storm blew the some fast-developing countries, especially Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. They had great economic develop before the crisis, but left almost everything at the end of the storm. The most obvious impact by the crisis is the capital outflows and currency devaluation. So, people in those developing countries began to find who should be respond to the crisis. International speculators wereRead MoreEffects of the Asian Financial Crisis on 19971006 Words   |  4 PagesThe financial crisis in many countries in Asia in 1997-1998 was an unexpected event. It was mainly because most of the Asian countries had been enjoying economic growth prior to the crisis. The crisis itself started with the devaluation of Thailand’s Baht in July 1997. The Thailand government decided to float its currency in order to defend the Baht against speculative attack, despite its fixed exchange rate system. This decision was apparently t he beginning of the economic downturn of many AsianRead MoreEssay On ASEAN1009 Words   |  5 Pagesregion benefited from macroeconomic stability with countries ran budgetary surpluses up to the middle of 1997. The engine growth was said to be the exports, which grew more than fifty-fold from US$6.3 billion in 1970 to US$340 billion in 1996 (Setboonsarng, 1998). Much of the growth in the region could be attributed to the ASEAN leaders’ decision to launch the region on the road to real economic integration by starting the process of creating the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) in 1992 and liberalizeRead MoreImf As An International Financial Institution Essay1130 Words   |  5 PagesThe 1997-1998 Indonesian Economic Crises. IMF Interventions - Lessons to learn. Introduction. 1997 to1998 saw the East Asian nations of Thailand, Indonesia and South Korea engulfed in an economic and financial crises that nearly collapsed their economies. The IMF was at the center stage to help during these crises. How IMF’s assistance further deepened Indonesia’s economic crises, received heavy criticism from Political, economic and social analyst against IMF s programs and Policies in DevelopingRead MoreWhy The State Is A Weak Player On Public Policy1432 Words   |  6 Pagesimplement after the 1997 economic crisis in Indonesia. Djiwandono (2006) concludes that the economic crisis in 1997 was caused by the combination of weak domestic economic and inefficiencies financial structures and â€Å"contagion† forces from external. Specifically, the combination of external shock starting in Thailand in 1997 and the weak Indonesia banking system soon resulted a systemic banking crisis (Omori, 2014). Data shows that Rupiah depreciated 80% in just less than 12 months, economic growth slumpedRead MoreFactors That Caused the 1997 East Asian Financial Crisis1604 Words   |  6 PagesFactors That Caused the 1997 East Asia Financial Crisis Discuss the principal factors responsible for the East Asian currency/financial crisis of 1997. In 1997, there occurred certain shifts in expectations from the market. The regional contagion and confidence led to the East Asian financial turmoil. In 1990s, it had been reported that the microeconomic and macroeconomic businesses were not performing as expected. The local and international investors had not held enough grips into the looming