Tag: ITB Partners

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Jim Weber To Present “The Three Pillars For Success” BENG Atlanta Chapter August Meeting

Join Us for the August Atlanta BENG Chapter Meeting featuring Jim Weber

Jim Weber – Managing Partner, ITB Partners

Jim Weber, Managing Partner ITB Partners, founder of New Century Dynamics Executive Search and the author of “Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal” will be joining our BENG Atlanta Chapter in August. Jim will be presenting:  “The Three Pillars For Success”

This discussion is meant to career-minded professionals who are gainfully employed, or between situations, and independent business owners looking to become more successful.

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Date And Time

Tue, August 13, 2019

7:30 AM – 9:30 AM EDT

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Location

Bella’s Gourmet Kitchen

350 Embassy Row Northeast

Sandy Springs, GA 30328

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ABOUT BENG:

The Atlanta chapter of the Business Executives Networking Group (BENG) is a multidiscipline, independent group of job seekers, those currently employed and business networkers, who are willing to help others. Current membership includes mid to senior-level executives with over ten (10) years of business experience. Past attendees have come from the financial management, information technology, legal, manufacturing, engineering, transportation, logistics, distribution, and general management industries. We actively seek new members from all disciplines.

Monthly meetings are structured to help each member get the maximum benefit.

BENG Networking Meetings:

  • Are approximately two hours in length.
  • Are typically held monthly.
  • Range from 10 to 30 attendees, but the average is 20.
  • A skill-building presentation.
  • Allows each attendee 30 seconds to introduce themselves, talk about their background and expertise, and to present their Target Companies and networking needs.
  • Please bring business cards and your marketing plan if you have one.

Networking meetings provide members with an opportunity to sharpen their networking skills, meet peers from various disciplines and share business opportunities and job leads.

REGISTER

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Find a Stimulating Place to Work!

This past Wednesday I had the pleasure of enjoying a fine cigar and a few beers with my friend and colleague, Paul.  I haven’t seen much of him lately as he has been traveling.  Our cover story was to discuss his August presentation to ITB Partners and to update one another on our activities.  Well, we did all of that of course, but the real mission was to introduce Paul to my favorite cigar bar.  As a subscriber to my blog you already know that I strive to mix business and pleasure whenever possible.

 

I arrived a little early and noticed that Paul was already there, still in his car talking on his cell phone.  Later, he told me that he was finishing a business call.  Life in the digital age.  I continued inside and went straight for the humidor.  Although it was a bit understocked, I found a favorite brand and paid the attendant.   Paul entered the humidor at that time, so I showed him around.  He made his selection then we lit up, found seats at the bar and ordered our drinks.  After exchanging a few pleasantries, I told him the history of the establishment.  I pointed out that the venue is designed to accommodate people who come in during the day to enjoy a cigar while working.  They offer WIFI and provide ample outlets to charge electronic devices and to power laptops.  In addition to seats at the bar, there are several workstations and a private room suitable for meetings.  I went on to say that I am there at least one afternoon each week, usually working on my blog post.  I confessed that I have branded those visits as “going full Hemingway.”  That elicited a hearty chuckle from Paul.  He was impressed with the venue, including the humidor, and the layout.  We were off to a good start.

 

As the primary business reason for our meeting was to discuss his presentation, we got right into that topic.  Paul wanted to know how to position his talk as the audience wouldn’t be his typical prospects.  I told him that there were two main points to consider.  First, the members want to learn about him.  They want to know his background and how he came to be involved in his current situation.  Secondly, they want to know about his employer and the product he’s selling.  I said, “keep the discussion at 40,000 feet.”  They don’t need to get into the details, they just need enough information to make good referrals.  Also, I told him that I had adopted the Guy Kawasaki 10-20-30 rule for presentations.  Ten slides, twenty minutes, using a 30pt font.  As our members don’t need to hear a lecture or an infomercial, I advised Paul to facilitate a discussion.  He agreed to send me his draft and I offered to help arrive at the final product.  I noticed that his stress level had dropped significantly.  That could have been the effect of the cigar and beer.  Who knows?

 

We moved on to chat about his progress.  He is selling an innovative, one might say disruptive, integrated software package.  Paul began by telling me about a major QSR brand that contacted him to complete a request for proposal, (RFP).  I asked if an internal contact had provided the invitation.  He said no, but that it came by way of an obscure article that spoke well of his product.  I felt instant validation for my resent admonition on the importance of writing articles to leverage one’s brand.   He went on to say that his team built a solid relationship with the client by demonstrating their familiarity with franchising and the challenges of store development.  Apparently, his competition was represented by technicians who lacked knowledge of or an appreciation for the requirements to manage the challenges of a growing franchised restaurant brand.  I said that closing this deal should propel his business to a whole new level.  He agreed and moved on to talk about his negotiations with a non-food franchising concept.

 

Having heard of Paul’s recent successes, I reminded him that we are prepared to leverage his efforts through our social media and public relations platform.  He said he had forgotten about those benefits.  So, I spent the next few minutes reminding him about our capabilities.  He was sold.  My thoughts moved to other possible referrals.  By the end of our conversation, I had a long list of connections to make on his behalf.

 

Paul and I had a productive meeting, as I knew we would.   I have long understood the boost I get from spending time with friends and colleagues in a relaxed, fun environment.  If you don’t enjoy your work, you are probably pursuing the wrong career.  Your job should be fun, so find every opportunity to work in a place that stimulates your creativity and provides personal satisfaction.  You will be glad you did!

Thank you for visiting our blog.

I hope you enjoyed our point of view and would like to receive regular posts directly to your email inbox.  Toward this end, put your contact information on my mailing list.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read.  Your input is very important to me so; please leave a comment.

Jim Weber, Managing Partner

ITB PARTNERS

Jim.Weber@itbpartners.com

Author of: Fighting Alligators, Job Search Strategy For The New Normal

 

 

 

 

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Pan Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month

A week ago, Saturday, my wife and I attended an event hosted by the Pan Asian Pacific American Council of Georgia, celebrating Asia-Pacific American unity. We were invited by a client of Laotian descent who is very active in the Gwinnett County, Georgia community.  I enjoy experiencing different cultures, although it’s usually by sampling their food. However, I lived in Hawaii for three and one-half years, during junior high and high school, so I have some experience with the Asian community.  I knew this event would be fun.

 

Pan Asian Opening Ceremony-2 5-18-2019

The evening was a celebration of their successful blending into the American mosaic.  It began with a flag ceremony; the American flag leading the way, followed by women in traditional costumes, carrying the flags of their native lands. Everyone stood for the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a solo rendition of the national anthem.

 

The atmosphere was a mixture of pride for their heritage and old fashion American patriotism. The event featured traditional music, songs, dance, and wardrobes.  The drummers were awesome!  Naturally, events like this are a magnet for politicians, so the agenda featured speeches by local representatives.  Thankfully, they were brief and unremarkable.  The last event of the evening, just before my wife and I had to leave, was the scholarship presentation to new high school graduates. It was symbolic of the community’s progress.

 

May is set aside to honor Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. During this month, we celebrate their culture, traditions, and history.  May was chosen for this recognition as events significant to the Asian Community occurred this month.  The first Japanese immigrants to the United States arrived on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad was May 10, 1869.   Many of the workers who laid those tracks were Chinese immigrants. On October 5, 1978, President Carter signed legislation recognizing Asian American Heritage Week. In 1990, President George H. W. Bush signed a law to expand this recognition period to a month. At that time May was officially designated as Asia-Pacific American Heritage Month.

 

The following Tuesday, I was scheduled to meet my client at her office in Lawrenceville, the Gwinnett County Seat.  We planned to meet at 1:00 p.m. to review a draft report of the initial assessment phase of my work.  My client saw an opportunity to add a free lunch to our agenda. She invited me to join her for the Pan Asian Pacific Islands American Appreciation Day at the Gwinnett County Courthouse.  According to the U.S. Census Department, the July 1, 2018 estimate for the population of Gwinnett County was approximately 927,781 citizens. Americans of Asian and Pacific Island heritage count for 12.3% of the total population, making them a very significant constituent group.

 

We were surprised to learn, however, that what she thought would be a quick lunch and proclamation, turned into a 2 1/2-hour affair that included speeches from County Commissioners, a panel discussion, and then a recognition ceremony at the beginning of a meeting of the County Commission. It’s safe to say that whenever politicians get involved in an event, the time commitment will increase.  As I had set aside the entire afternoon for my client, I wasn’t fazed a bit.  In fact, I enjoyed it.

 

The event began with a welcome from a County Commissioner, as we enjoyed our lunch, followed by a few words from an Asian American Commissioner.  A Panel Discussion was the next item on the agenda.  The Panel included a Muslim American, two Vietnamese Americans of different generations, a Chinese American, and an Indian American. All are first-or-second-generation Americans, many coming to the United States as a result of the Vietnam War. The gist of the discussion was about aligning around common interests and challenges to move the community forward. I found some very interesting parallels to those of a business start-up trying to establish itself in the marketplace. They spoke to the same points I had made in an earlier post on networking; the key to success is to interact, participate, and to engage.

 

I was impressed by the pride these Asian-Americans have for their heritage and appreciation for their American Citizenship.  Clearly, their assimilation hasn’t been easy, but they are thriving and optimistic.  My takeaway is that one’s success in life requires a commitment to a goal.  To achieve that goal, one must interact, participate, and engage.  This recipe holds for building a business, assimilation into the community, and for gaining political power.

Thank you for visiting our blog.

I hope you enjoyed our point of view and would like to receive regular posts directly to your email inbox.  Toward this end, put your contact information on my mailing list.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read.  Your input is very important to me so; please leave a comment.

Jim Weber, Managing Partner

ITB PARTNERS

Jim.Weber@itbpartners.com

Author of: Fighting Alligators, Job Search Strategy For The New Normal

 

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Jim Weber Completes 1st Phase of Turnaround Engagement

Jim Weber has completed the first phase of a Turnaround Management Engagement for a client in Chapter 11 Reorganization.

His work revealed a clear path for a successful exit from Chapter 11 and a strategy to generate sustainable growth for the client.  The next phase will include a detailed plan and the introduction of performance metrics.

For more information about ITB Partners and what we can do for you, contact Jim Weber at;  Jim.Weber@itbpartners.com

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Mentors, Coaches, and Networking

Josh Sweeney Presentation on Culture First Hiring

This week I received an article from my friend, Faith, which she described as ‘must read.’  When Faith sends me a ‘must read’ article, I jump on it!   This article was an excerpt from The Complete Guide to Building Your Personal Brand, a book written by Neil Patel and Aaron Agius.  Actually, the article is chapter 6, How to Connect With Mentors.

 

 

The article begins by stating that “74% of hiring managers, believe that job seekers need the support of a mentor, counselor, or job coach whereas, only 40% of job seekers actually have a mentor to help them through the process.” They quoted Madeline Slutsky, Chairman of the Career Advisory Board and Vice President of Career Services at DeVry University who stated that “job seekers are doing themselves a huge disservice by ignoring the wealth of guidance and insight a mentor could provide.”

 

 

They quoted Rachel Louise Ensign of the Wall Street Journal who said that “a mentor can help a young worker answer tough questions about his or her career path and get perspective on the industry.  The relationship may even help you eventually land a new job.”

 

 

After the setup and further prose on the value of mentors, the article laid out a systematic approach to identify a mentor, how to engage the prospective mentor, and the need to formalize a structure for a productive relationship.

 

 

This post was clearly meant for someone beginning their career, a primer as it were, which is fine.  It’s an important topic, worth discussion.  There’s so much to learn about navigating organizational cultures that one needs a mentor or coach to help accelerate their learning.

 

 

I find it useful to distinguish between the work of a coach and mentor.  Although there may be some overlap in their approach, there is a difference.  A mentor is more of a strategist and generalist whereas a coach is more tactical and specific.  This point is a generalization, of course, as mentors can be strategic or tactical, depending on the situation. In my experience, mentors are people you call on to better understand the dynamics of a situation. They are guides.  They don’t tell you what to do but help you learn by providing options to consider.  A coach, on the other hand, helps you develop skills and provides feedback and encouragement.  Another important distinction is that coaches are often paid for their services.  Mentors are volunteers who gain satisfaction by giving back.

 

 

The situation is relevant as well.  A mentor or coach appropriate for career development on the job may not be suitable to help you during a job search.  A career coach experienced in job search will provide relevant tactical support for resume preparation, networking effectiveness, and interviewing skills, to name a few.

 

 

I couldn’t help but think that finding a mentor is a subset of building a network to support your career.  That thought sparked my thinking on a broader level.  Faith’s recommendations tend to do that.  I was reminded of the chapter I’d just read from Strategic Connections.  Those authors speak about the importance of creating teams to accomplish different objectives.  They say that, depending on the nature of the objective, different personality types are required to achieve the objective.  They identify 14 different archetypes as follows:

 

 

  • The Sponsor
  • The influencer
  • The Cheerleader
  • The Wise Elder
  • The Novice
  • The Heart
  • The Wizard
  • The Brain
  • The Critic
  • The Guru
  • The Sarge
  • The Promoter
  • The Creative
  • The Global Citizen

 

 

Thinking about the issue further, finding mentors and coaches is part of building your network. You’ve probably been on different teams from time to time, both at work and play, so you have experience.  To achieve important goals, we often need to assemble a team.  Depending on the nature of the objective, the team may be broad, or it may be small.

 

 

From a broader perspective, the issue is about building a network of people with diverse skills and perspectives who can be a resource to you.  I believe it’s about developing relationships based on mutual respect and interests.  You’re not only developing a team to support your needs; you’re a member of your contacts’ teams.  Expect to be called on when they need you.  Make sure to answer their call.

 

Thank you for visiting our blog.

I hope you enjoyed our point of view and would like to receive regular posts directly to your email inbox.  Toward this end, put your contact information on my mailing list.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read.  Your input is very important to me so; please leave a comment.

 

Jim Weber, Managing Partner

ITB PARTNERS

Jim.Weber@itbpartners.com

Author of: Fighting Alligators, Job Search Strategy For The New Normal

 

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Speed Networking Event Sponsored by ITB Partners

Enjoy a Spring Evening in Midtown making new network connections over Beer, Wine, and hors d’oeuvres.

When: March 26, 2019 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Building off the concept of Speed Dating, this event is designed to practice and improve your networking skills with a number of people, in short, intense meetings.

The fun begins at 4:30 p.m. with beer, wine, and hors d’oeuvres. A $15 Cover Charge is required.

Our Host, Global Showrooms is located across the street from the Midtown Marta Station on 10th street, at: 10 10th Street NW, Suite 150, Atlanta, 30309

 

For more information, and to register,

Click Here!

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Building Healthy Cultures

Gregg Burkhalter, The LinkedIn Guy

Last week I talked about building a foundation for success.  This week I was walking the walk, immersed in the concept of building healthy cultures.  I have long been interested in developing nurturing cultures, so once again I was in my sweet spot.  The fun began late Monday afternoon, meeting a founding partner to talk shop and other things over cigars and Guinness Draft.  One of our primary topics was the values we need to reinforce to build a better culture and company.  He is a big proponent of the 5C model, but I will save that for a later date.

Tuesday morning, I facilitated the monthly meeting of the Business Executives Networking Group, The BENG.  Gregg Burkhalter was the featured speaker. Greg positions himself as the LinkedIn Guy.  He’s an advocate for personal branding via LinkedIn. Before the meeting, Greg told me that he’s been doing more work for corporations, helping their employees become effective LinkedIn users. I found his revelation shocking. I remember when people were reluctant to join LinkedIn.  They feared their employer would see their profile and think they were looking for another job.

Greg said that employers realize that their employees are their best ambassadors.  Now, they encourage their employees to become active on LinkedIn. Apparently, this has become an upgrade to many cultures. The cynic in me would say “it’s about time.” With so many people using LinkedIn, employers don’t have much choice. It makes sense to embrace LinkedIn, gaining leverage through their employees’ accounts. At least it seems to be a positive step in the right direction

Wednesday evening, I enjoyed a cigar and a beer, or two, with a millennial friend, Chris.    Chris and I met through a mutual friend. He was about to publish his book on millennial happiness and I had just published mine.  He’s since built a consulting career as an expert on the millennial condition.  Our meeting was meant as check-in and catch-up.  Chris said that he’d recently completed a presentation to Google and delivered a Ted talk.  Currently, he’s moving beyond Millennials to the larger population of career professionals.  Eventually, we moved on to discuss the similarities and differences between Millennials and Baby Boomers from a cultural perspective.  Chris, like me, is involved in helping companies create more effective cultures.

Thursday morning, after closing a deal to recruit another consultant, I moderated our Executive Leadership Team meeting. Although I facilitate these meetings, I try to avoid dominating the discussions.  I want to ensure that everyone’s voice heard and respected. From a leadership perspective, I like Nelson Mandela’s example, be the last one to speak. I believe these values are appropriate for our culture.

Later that afternoon I met a potential client whose company is going through Chapter 11 reorganization.   I was referred to them to help engineer a turnaround. The meeting was mostly a “getting to know you” session.  It seemed to be dragging on until I asked their opinion about what needed to be done. The meeting became much more productive after that. The CEO became animated about the need to penetrate a different segment of the market.  She told me that their primary business development function was her networking through trade associations. They weren’t doing much of anything in the way of electronic advertising, or using social media. It was interesting how the conversation changed after I asked for her thoughts. I believe it solidified our relationship.

Friday, I facilitated our monthly member’s meeting. The speaker was Josh Sweeney of Epic Culture. Epic Culture works with companies to build better cultures and thereby, improve performance. The topic of his conversation was “Culture First Hiring.” In other words, focus on tje best fit for the employer’s culture, assuming they meet the skills and experience required of the job.

It isn’t often that I’m able to spend an entire week working on my favorite issue.  Building a healthy culture is most gratifying.  Yes, it was a good week!

Thank you for visiting our blog.

I hope you enjoyed our point of view and would like to receive regular posts directly to your email inbox.  Toward this end, put your contact information on my mailing list.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read.  Your input is very important to me so; please leave a comment.

Jim Weber, Managing Partner

ITB PARTNERS

Jim.Weber@itbpartners.com


Author of:  Fighting Alligators, Job Search Strategy For The New Normal

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Gregg Burkhalter Presents To BENG

Gregg Burkhalter, The LinkedIn Guy

Gregg Burkhalter, “The LinkedIn Guy” presents to the BENG Atlanta Chapter, March 12, 2019. Gregg is an awesome presenter who always delivers! In every presentation, he brings new tips and techniques to make your LinkedIn profile best represent your personal brand.

Jim Weber, Managing Partner

ITB PARTNERS

Jim.Weber@itbpartners.com



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FENG Panel Discussion: Alternatives to Traditional Employment

THE FINANCIAL EXECUTIVES NETWORKING GROUP

Wednesday, February 13, 2019 Leslie Kuban facilitated a Panel Discussion for the Atlanta Chapter of The FENG. The topic of the discussion was ‘Alternatives to Traditional Employment.” Ms. Kuban, Owner of Frannet Atlanta, and Member of ITB Partners assembled a panel to discuss their motivation and experience leaving traditional employment to own a business.

The panelists talked about the need to follow your passion when picking a business. They reinforced the need for confidence to strike out on your own. Perseverance through difficult times was recognized as a fundamental requirement.  All agreed that the major reason for starting a business is to gain control over one’s life and career, especially in a highly volatile environment where tenures are short. 

FENG Panelists 2-13-2019, Left to Right: Ed Bauer , Leslie Kuban CFE, Jim Weber, Mercedes Conception-Gray, Chris Ruttle.

The Panelists assembled by Ms. Kuban included Ed Bauer, Franchisee of Fitness Machine Technicians; Jim Weber, President New Century Dynamics Executive Search, and Managing Partner, ITB Partners; Mercedes Conception-Gray, Regional Director, Patrice & Associates; and Chris Ruttle, Franchisee Owner/Manager at Best in Class Education.


The Financial Executives Networking Group is a 501(c)(3), founded in 1991 as a forum for senior financial executives to share job opportunities and experiences. Members have held titles such as Chief Financial Officer, Controller, Treasurer, Managing Director, as well as Vice President of Tax, Mergers & Acquisitions, or Internal Audit.

For more information about franchising contact Leslie Kuban at lkuban@frannet.com

Jim Weber, Managing Partner, ITB Partners
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Mark Grace awarded patent on “how to design experiences

ITB practice leaders make a difference. Here is a case in point.

 

 

 

Mark Grace is an ITB practice leader on Customer Experience for businesses and consumers.   

He sees society at a new inflection point, building to a new level of achievement. Just as Thomas Kuhn coined the word “paradigm” to explain the scientific revolution and its impact, Mark coined the word “experidigm™” to describe the all-at-once consumer experience revolution and its future direction.

The experidigm inflection point means that the economy and associated consumer actions are moving beyond a product centered world to buying a complete experience universe. BtoC and BtoB now buy whole experiences potentially made up of hundreds of products and services (i.e. Utilities buy all the products of the Smart grid all-at-once). To support the buying of an entire experience, businesses are organizing in new, non-silo product ways to manage the logistics, marshalling, and delivery to these experience buying consumers (ie Uber, Airbnb, etc.). Consumers are intentionally integrating the new experiences in to their lives in new ways.

Recently, Mark was awarded a patent on “how to design experiences” (https://www.linkedin.com/in/markgracebeyondvia). He has created “Applied Experidigm Zones” where you can go to learn how to experidigm. To learn how to offer experidigms to consumers, Click Here.

Mark Grace holds six additional patents on how to visually communicate and steward the creation of experiences. Mark has published six books (amazon.com/author/markgracepath) describing “how to experidigm,” teaching consumers and groups how to integrate products and services into joyful experiences. Mark regularly offers seminars for corporations and consumers.

For further information about Mark Grace, review his ITB profile at (www.itbpartners.com). Get a free assessment to design your all-at-once customer experience.