Making yourself MEMORABLE - what a week!

My best friend went on a job interview recently. It made me think of what is happening in the news these days and the staggering number of people who have recently found themselves out of work. As I thought of this I thought of the importance of making yourself memorable. It has been a memorable week.

Bernard Madoff obviously made himself very memorable this week. Memorable as a crook, a scoundrel, a cheat, a liar, a reason that people start to distrust everyone.

How sad. How despicable. How revolting that this man DESTROYED so many lives.

I watched some kid on Sports Center make a full-length court basket in a game . . . then do a similar feet a couple days later in practice. Amazing. Nice. Very memorable.

I saw a video about someone whose parents were told when he was a baby would never walk. He is now a young adult and walked all of the every hole of last year’s PGA tour. We cried as we watched it. Extremely memorable. http://vodpod.com/watch/1165857-walk-on-espn-video

My fourth grandson, Ethan, was born on the 11th. Marcus flew back from military service in the Sinai Desert just in time as Carrie gave birth. What a memorable event for all of their (and our) lives!

While at the Charlotte airport connecting flights I met Bobby – one of the best servers I’ve ever seen. He just recently graduated from college and is looking for a sales job. I think he found one when he waited on Mary Kay and me. WOW. Without trying to impress us he just exuded confidence and charm. If he has the work ethic to match this charm he will have an amazing sales career. I want to hire you, Bobby!

While flying I reread the book “Live R. I. C. H. (Respect, Integrity, Customer Focus, Having Fun) – How to build success in your company and your life - with a proven Code of Values.” By Dina Dwyer-Owens, Chairwoman of the Dwyer Group. Dina is also Chairwoman of the International Franchise Association this year.

What a book! It is filled with stories about The Dwyer Group’s franchisees in their various brands – Mr. Electric, Mr. Rooter, Aire Serv Heating and Air Conditioning, Mr. Appliance, Glass Doctor, Rainbow International Restoration and Dream Maker Bath and Kitchen. Dina’s entire organization operates on a Code of Values that were originally started by her father when he founded the company in 1981.

Dina talks about her franchisees who made themselves very memorable by adhering to a Code of Value that not only propels their business – but also propels their lives. What Dina wrote will be memorable for generations to come for all of the people she featured in the book.

Here is what else I thought about after reading the book and thinking of how you can/should make yourself memorable.

It is true that the job market is not anything close to it was before. It will come back. These aren't comforting words for those looking for work unfortunately. But, if you are one of the people who is looking for work at this time please take this to heart – you can find a way to achieve your goals if you can find the way to make yourself memorable (in a positive way). Companies are still hiring – but they may be pickier than they were before.

You may be competing against more people than ever before. If this is the case, what are you doing to make sure that you stand head and shoulders above the rest? Think of these areas:

+ Your dress
+ Your enthusiasm
+ Your follow up
+ Your thank you note
+ Your professionalism during the interview

Now is the time to take control and make a difference – not only for the companies you are interviewing with but also for yourself.

That reminds me of something else that happened this week. Eric, our College Recruiter, and I were on a conference call with Steven Rothberg of CollegeRecruiter.com. E V E R Y time I talk to Steven it reminds me of what a professional he is. How he ALWAYS thinks about his customers’ needs. How he epitomizes what a business partner should be. That is one of the reasons Steven stays so memorable.

Make yourself memorable. One of the keys for your future today . . . and your future!