"You will not like it. It's too technical and depressing!" 

Someone said this to me ... who actually did not even read the book and just listened to and read some other peoples’ book reviews..... 

Well I never thought that .....

* I would be reading a 600 page biography....

* I would be reading about an IT (marketing) high-profile professional ... 

* It would take me only a month to read it ...

* It would be such as interesting book that gives me so many different insights into his personal as well as professional life......

and to be honest 

I did not perceive it as too technical and depressing at all! 

It was in a bookstore at Khan Market, here in New Delhi, where I noticed Steve Jobs’s biography exposed twice in the same shop window. I remember that I loved reading biographies when I was in my twenties but mostly about sports professionals.

One day I started reading the preview of the eBook version on my iPad and I felt that as an Apple user this would be a must read for me. (I would like to mention here that it was my Apple enthusiastic husband who convinced me to switch from a PC to an Apple Computer some time ago. Believe me, once you use an Apple Computer you will fall in love with it and you do not want to go back to a PC using Microsoft Windows anymore!) 

I decided to buy the book not from the bookstore but to order it online from www.flipkart.com which gave me a better deal (since Amazon does not deliver to India!). I received it on the 31st December 2011 in my mail and I finished reading it on the 30th January 2012.

I must say that it was very gripping. Every day I looked forward to read more and more. When I reached half of the book I already started feeling a bit sad because I knew that there were just 300 more pages left and I thought “I wished there would be another 600 pages more to read ...” 

What I loved

It covered so many different stages of Steve’s life, such as his adoption, his college experiences, his emotional and family life, his music heroes, his trip to India, the way how he set up and run different companies, how certain corporate issues have been solved, how meetings have been conducted, how different people got the idea for creating certain revolutionary products, how much planning went into building Apple stores the way he liked it, what he was looking for in new hires, how he prepared his New Product Release Presentations, his relationship with business partners, employees, friends etc., dealing with advertising agencies, negotiating with competitors, how it felt being kicked out of his own company and then being taken on board again and last but not least his health problems.  

Title of the book: Poised for Success - Mastering the 4 Qualities that distinguish outstanding professionals

Author: Jacqueline Whitmore 

Year of Publication: 2011

Publishing House: St. Martin’s Press

ISBN: 978-0-312-60032-7

Number of Pages: 178

Price: List price: $ 21.99, on Amazon.com for $ 14.20 maximum  

Content: 

Part 1: PRESENCE

(Poise is presence personified, package yourself for success, the well-dressed man, the well-dressed woman, sound advice, discover and create your personal brand) 

Part 2: POLISH

(Networking not working?, foster friendships instead, cultivate your VIP Relationships, hone your business hospitality skills, entertain with elegance and ease, be the world’s best guest) 

Part 3: PROFESSIONALISM

(Social Media Essentials, the Likability Factor, follow through or fall back, seven unwritten rules every professional needs to know, listening: the lost link in a loud world)

Part 4: PASSION

(Rise and shine, gratitude, grace, and acts of kindness, for the health of it, fashion your life with passion) 

8 Things I loved in this book: 

* The idea of consulting other experts from other industries (e.g. an image consultant, a wine expert and many more) and including their opinion, added value to the book and enriched it in a particular way. 

- Image (the way you look, you behave and you talk; what your car, your resume, your business card, your photograph, your stationery, your workspace and your website/blog site says about you) 

- Etiquette (how to be a great host and guest, how to be thoughtful, table manners and much more)

- How to excel in customer service

- How to conduct a healthier and happier life (this part reminded me a bit of Joel Osteen’s credo), 

- The power of active listening  

- How to build good relationships online and offline

- How to look, act and sound more professional (how to promote yourself more effectively)

• The unwritten rules in a work environment 
• How to approach a VIP and achieve your goal
• The analysis of famous women and men from past and present and what they did in order to stand out
• How to offer extraordinary customer service 
• The cost per wearing amortizing method (why quality not quantity matters when purchasing clothes) 
• How to tell a person’s background by asking a simple question

* Every chapter provided at the beginning some good quotes.   

How would I rate it? 

I would give it a 9.9 out of 10. 

I would have given it a 10 if ...

...it would have included some pictures or illustrations in Part 1, chapter 3, “The Well-dressed man”. For me personally (from a woman’s perspective) it would have been easier to understand certain concepts when it comes to men’s fashion.  

“I’ve read many books in my life but only this book was able to make me take action so quickly on certain things that were long overdue in my personal as well as professional life. This is a brilliant resource for any business professional who wants to make an impact on other people and stand out from the crowd. Highly recommendable!” 

(Karin Schroeck-Singh, Director of Soft Skills Edge and the Blogcaster of “The Manners and Career Blogcast”) 

www.theprotocolinstitute.com

 * Book Title: “Everyday Etiquette - How to  Navigate 101 Common and Uncommon Social    Situations”

 * Book Author: Patricia Rossi      (www.patriciarossi.com)  

 * Publishing House: St. Martin’s Press 

 * Year of publication: September 2011 

 * ISBN N.: 978-0-312-60427-1

 * Price: $ 14.99  

• Content: 

• Test your Etiquette IQ (15 multiple choice questions with answers) 
• Introduction
• Introducing Yourself (The Approach, proper introductions, body language, what to say, the handshake) 
• Communicating with Confidence (cell phones, email, text messaging, making conversation, name game, politely ending a conversation, responding to gossip) 
• Social Media in Modern Times (Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Skype, YouTube, Blogging)
• Table Manners (bread and soup courses, entrees: Continental/American, dinner parties: host and guest responsibilities, banquets and buffets, taboo table topics, wine etiquette, toasts) 
• Business Matters (Business cards, business lunches: host and guest responsibilities, casual Friday, conferencing: business meetings/teleconferences/videoconferences, home office, interview necessities, networking-building new and lasting relationships, office cubicles, office parties) 
• Children (Help your child shine!, Play Dates: Host and Guest responsibilities, sleepovers, children’s birthday parties: guest and host responsibilities, back-to-school success, sportsmanship, ghoulishly good manners for Halloween, social etiquette and respect for others, Thank-you Notes your kids will love writing) 
• Petiquette (the Dog Park, Pets and Travel, Visiting the Veterinarians’ Office, Service Animal Etiquette, Cat Owner Etiquette) 
• Travel (airplane/airport etiquette, bed- and breakfast, camping, cruises, hotels, how to be a great host, how to be a great houseguest, traveling by train) 
• Giving and Receiving Gifts (Gift Giving, Receiving Gifts, Regifting) 
• Invitations, Sympathy Cards, and Thank-You Notes (Evites, Invitations/RSVP Etiquette, Sympathy Cards, Thank-You Notes) 
• Out and About (Art Museums, Beach Day, Boating, Concerts, Dating Dos and Don’ts, Fragrance in public, getting around, the grocery store, the Gym, Hospital Visits, Internet Cafe and Wi-fi manners, mingle, movie theaters, new neighbors, poolside, Spas, Tattoo Studios, the theater/performing arts Center, Theme Parks, tips on tipping, tobacconist tips for the Cigar Enthusiast, the Zoo)  
• Sports (Championship Game Parties: Super Bowl/World Series etc.), Golf, NASCAR, Poker, Skyboxes, Stadiums, Tailgating, Tennis, Triathlons) 
• Encouragement in Tough Times (Bad News and How to Handle it, job loss or bankruptcy, funerals, illness/unfavorable Medical diagnosis) 
• Celebrations (anniversaries, bridal and baby showers, graduations, religious Birth and Coming-of-Age Ceremonies, quinceaneras and Sweet Sixteens, weddings). 

• Questions and Answers (it answers 13 interesting etiquette dilemmas) 

* What I particularly liked: 

- The title says it all “Everyday Etiquette”. The book gives you numerous etiquette tips on dealing with friends, relatives, your children, your pets, acquaintances, visitors, work colleagues and the general public in various situations. Usually etiquette books are focused either on social etiquette or business etiquette only. This book is a good mix and covers both topics very well. 

- The author shares at the beginning of each chapter a personal experience. Some are very good stories while others are okay. 

- There are some etiquette topics that - even for Etiquette Professionals - would be new, such as: Tobacconist Tips for the Cigar Enthusiast, etiquette Tips on: Poker, Skyboxes, Triathlons, NASCAR races, Tattoo Studios, traveling on cruises, service animal etiquette etc. 

- That there was an Etiquette Quiz at the beginning. Readers always love to test their Etiquette IQ. 

- Every chapter had some illustrations that highlight the most important tips on a certain topic. It makes it more memorable for the reader. 

- Some topics provided concrete examples, e.g. how to write an effective Thank-you note or sentences you should avoid when trying to comfort a person with a life-threatening disease. 

- The Questions & Answers section at the end that answers very interesting etiquette dilemmas, e.g. how to unfriend someone on Facebook. 

* How would I rate it? 

I would give it a 9.5 out of 10. 

* I would have given it a 10, if it ....

- would have included more personal stories and experiences throughout the book not just at the beginning of each chapter.  

- would have had a conclusion at the end of the book. It ends with a Questions & Answer session which I find a bit abrupt. 

The book could have provided: 

- a final personal experience from the author that demonstrates that also nowadays manners DO matter 

or 

- repeated the same quiz that has been presented at the beginning. It would have allowed the reader to see how effective the lessons from the book have been. Have the mistakes in the first quiz (before reading the book) been avoided in the second, same quiz (after reading the book)?  

"Make yourself or your friends, relatives and acquaintances a special gift this year..... buy Patricia's Rossi etiquette book! This might be the best investment you might have ever made in your own personal development. A book that teaches you how to feel at ease and confident in any social as well as professional situation." Karin Schroeck-Singh

www.theprotocolinstitute.com

Be my guest

What are you doing this evening?

I am thinking of having a quiet evening.

Have you got anything planned for tonight?

Would you like to join us for dinner this evening?

Thank you, that sounds very nice.

I would be pleased if you would honour me with your company.

May I invite you to my place tonight?

Would you and your wife like to come over for a glass of wine?

I’d love to; at what time?

Would between eight and half past suit you?

We’ve invited a few colleagues over for Friday evening. Wouldn’t you like to join us, too?

I’d love to, but unfortunately I won’t be able to. Our sales manager is coming for the weekend. 

I’d love to, but I’ve got another engagement.

Why don’t you bring your colleague along with you?

My wife would like to meet you. 

I’m afraid I can’t make it tonight.

She’ll be very depressed if you turn us down. 

She’ll be very disappointed if you refuse our invitation.

Thank you very much. I’ll look forward to that.

I’m looking forward to meeting your family. 

I'm afraid I'll have to say no I need an early night. 

www.theprotocolinstitute.com

Title of the book: “The Power of Civility”

Publisher: Thrive Publishing 

Year of publication: 2011 

Number of pages: 212

Price: $ 24.00 

ISBN: 978-0-9829419-6-6

This book is co-authored by 18 top civility and etiquette professionals who share their opinions, experiences and provide insightful tips on how to be more civilized, whether at home, at work, in your community, in public or abroad. 

It includes the following 18 chapters:

• The Power of One by Lew Bayer
• Civility begins at home by Deborah King
• Public Civility by Deborah McGrath
• Stand out - don’t stick out by Tiffany Nielsen
• The Power of Leadership Civility by Laura Barclay
• Building an exceptional professional image by Jules Hirst
• Lunchbox Civility - A tool for leaders by Penelope Paik
• Develop your personal brand and power it with civility by Yasmin Anderson-Smith
• Networking with Civility by Cheryl Walker-Robertson
• Navigating the Social and Psychological complexities of incivility by Suzanne Zazulak Pedro 
• Civility - Making it a Lifestyle by Cindy Ann Peterson
• To Say or not to say, that is the question by Shelby Scarbrough
• Civility Communicates confidence by Tara Crawford
• Civility on campus by Denise Pietzsch
• Uncovering diamonds by Pat Walker Locke
• Dining with Civility by Nonnie Cameron Owens
• R for Mutual Respect by Suzanne Nourse
• Cultural Considerations and Civility by Anita Shower 

--> What I particularly liked was: 

* That someone had the idea to publish a book on civility which includes so many different views, opinions, experiences and thoughts from experts working in the same industry. I wished other professionals working in other sectors would be able to provide similar resources. It would be highly interesting. 

* Those parts in various articles where Etiquette Professionals share their own personal experiences when dealing with other people. Stories make it always more memorable, ALWAYS. 

* Reading about other Etiquette Professionals’ background allowed me also to find out more about their credentials, how they write their profiles and how they differ from each other. The list at the end is also very helpful because it allows you to see instantly the location of various etiquette professionals. A good idea! 

* Some interesting new quotes on civility which I would like to add to my next edition of my Book on “Etiquette Quotes”. 

--> My Top 3 articles were: 

1.) The Power of Leadership Civility by Laura Barclay 

She included the results of a survey of business professionals on their thoughts and experiences of workplace civility, the negative impact of incivility, the different types of incivility, benefits of leadership civility for business and how to create a civil workplace. Highly interesting!

2.) Lunchbox Civility - A tool for leaders by Penelope Paik

She provides great tips on how to establish a clear, functional, successful and effective civility initiative for you and your organisation. Brilliant! 

Furthermore, I got another book tip which talks about “The Cost of Bad Behaviour”. 

3.) R for Mutual Respect - A booster for civility in Healthcare by Suzanne Nourse

I loved her article because everyone can somehow relate to what she wrote and - at some point in life - experienced similar situations when going to a healthcare professional. Suzanne provided 8 symptoms and remedies from the healthcare professional’s perspective and 7 symptoms and remedies from the patient’s perspective. Something particularly helpful and interesting for an Etiquette Consultant who trains companies in that regard. I wished more etiquette books would have a similar approach in which they don’t just give you general tips on manners but also what to do or how to react while experiencing inappropriate behaviour. 

Every Etiquette Professional in this book wrote important things that we should bear in mind in our social as well as professional life. However, these were my personal three favourite articles because they covered topics that I did not come across in other etiquette books so far. As mentioned earlier, interesting survey results, a symptoms/remedy approach and how to implement an effective civility initiative inside a company. Wonderful, truly enjoyed reading it!  

--> How would I rate it? 

I would give it a 8.5 out of 10. I would have given it a 10 if:

* it would have included some more topics which are hardly to find in other books or online. There are already many resources available which cover topics, such as: table manners, image etc.  

* it would have included also other Etiquette Professionals from Europe, Asia and Australia who share their experiences, views and tips.   

* it would have included one article about civility online (tech etiquette). 

I was a bit less interested in reading about political civility and psychological complexities of incivility. However, I would recommend this book to companies, employees and definitely also to other Etiquette Professionals because of the diversity of topics, writing styles and views. 

www.theprotocolinstitute.com

Ice-breakers

Did you have a good journey?

Had a good journey, I hope.

The train was rather overcrowded.

I hope you had a pleasant flight.

The flight was rather bumpy.

Did you get through the customs okay?

I didn’t have any problems.

How was the transfer to the hotel?

We haven’t seen each other for ages.

How are your wife and children?

By the way, many thanks for your Christmas greetings.

Thanks for your card when you were on holiday.

Did you find our company straight away?

I didn’t have any trouble thanks to your clear instructions.

Let’s sit down, shall we?

May I introduce you?

Let’s forget the formalities. 

I suggest we drop the formalities.

May I offer you something to drink?

Coffee, tea or something else?

I’ll have the same as you.

Do you feel like talking business right now?

Shall we have a drop of something to keep the cold out? 

www.theprotocolinstitute.com

Introducing others

Mr Smith, may I introduce you to Mrs Brown?

Tom, I’d like you to meet Sandra.

Sandra, this is Tom.

Claire, I’m not sure if you have met Tom. Tom, this is Claire.

Pleased to meet you.

The pleasure is mine. 

3. Introducing yourself

By the way, my name is ….

Perhaps I should introduce myself.

Jim Moore’s the name.

I am from Bonn. Where do you come from?

I am here on a holiday/business trip.

Pleased to meet you.

Happy to make your acquaintance.

I think we’ve met before.

Do you remember me? We met at Chris Johnson’s party last month.

Pleased to meet you.

Glad to meet you, too. 

2. At a Congress or at a Conference 

Excuse me, where is the conference room? 

Are you here for the first time? So am I. 

You look a bit lost. Can I help you?

Nice place. Do you come here often? 

I’m from …. Where are you from?

Do you happen to know the guest speaker?

What do you expect from this congress?

Are you here on business?

Can I get you a drink? 

May I ask why you are here?

Are you also staying at the ....(e.g. Hilton Hotel)?

Is it comfortable? – Yes, very.

What’s the food like?

How long are you staying? 

Here is my card.

We could have dinner together, if you like. 

www.theprotocolinstitute.com

When you're going out do you find it difficult to talk to strangers? If you are with friends you don't know that well, do you know what you are going to talk about? 

Some people think that small talk is not important but I think that being good at small talk makes you confident socially. And don’t forget that small talk skills can help you to develop relationships with people easier and quicker. Furthermore, it paves the way for other topics of conversation. 

The following 21 parts will give you various options how you can start different conversations by feeling confident at any time. 

1. Starting a conversation with strangers

Excuse me, do you speak English?

Excuse me. May I ask you a question?

Excuse me, is this seat taken?

Nasty weather, isn’t it?

What a slow train it is!

I beg your pardon. Was that your glass/chair?

I am awfully sorry, was that your foot?

You look worried. Is there anything I can do for you?

Has it been raining here like this for long?

It’s rather cold/hot/crowded in here, don’t you think?

May I invite you for a drink?

Why not have a beer? – Good idea!

Is this your first visit to …..?

Are you here on business or pleasure? 

The basis of Japanese business etiquette is mutual trust and respect for individuals, companies and values. 

* Mind your manners: 

• The Japanese do not shake hands; making physical contact is an uncomfortable experience. If they offer handshakes to westerners it should be followed by a slight bow of your head. The grip should be gentle. Imitate your host. 
  
• Do not look them straight in the eyes. It can appear challenging and makes them feel uncomfortable.
• When you are introduced give them your business card. Cards are also exchanged at parties. Your cards should be in English and Japanese. You need a qualified professional translator to get it done properly.
• When offered a business card, do not put it in your pocket. Read it immediately and leave it in front of you on the table. 
• When talking to the Japanese keep a greater distance than at home. And do not point with your finger, it is impolite.
• Be aware of silences or gaps in the conversation and don’t make the western mistake of trying to fill them; silence is “golden” after all.
• They are highly status-conscious. Top level executives expect to do business with top level managers from the other company. It is a sign of respect. Never use first names.
• They enjoy giving carefully chosen personal gifts. Westerners are often surprised at the trouble they take to find out about a visitor’s family. Follow their example when they visit you.
• The Japanese Samurai feels uncomfortable in the presence of clever businesswomen who try to negotiate in an aggressive way. Women are rarely invited into the men’s social circles.
• Dress conservatively: blue or grey suit, white shirt, dark tie. They like clean, not too young, not too hairy, calm and modes business partners. 

www.theprotocolinstitute.com

Imagine …. Your child applies to a college/university tomorrow and you as a parent could make a real contribution in supporting him/her going through this experience.

There are key stages in the application process which your child would have to manoveur successfully in order to gain admission into his/her chosen university. The first stage would be to choose the best university for them. This process requires a lot of thinking on the part of the child as well as the parent. Mainly a parent would be concerned about the safety of the child and the academic credentials the child would acquire during his/her stay at the university. It is very important during this stage for the parent to lay down certain rules that they wish their children to follow in order to choose the best university for them. However, it is important that the parent keeps in mind the child’s wishes during this initial stage. 

Once your child has chosen his/her preferred university then starts the process of writing an application. The university application in itself would give your child an opportunity to find out a lot about themselves in terms of their aspirations and goals. It might be that during the application process your child might change his/her mind regarding this particular university or the course they are going to do. Therefore, it is very important as a parent to understand how your child came to that particular conclusion and support them in their decision. One of the most important parts of completing a university application is the essay. While your child is writing their university essay it is important to offer your services as a proofreader or general advisor to them. Make sure they know they express themselves truthfully and honestly during this essay writing process. 

Give them some examples of good essays that you have came across and found interesting and thought provoking. This would lay down the general foundations for your child to understand how to articulate a good essay.

The day they receive the acceptance letter from the university in the mail, celebrate it with your child and be happy for their success! Don’t yet start burdening them with the responsibility of being on their own. This also goes the other way. If you find that your child has not been accepted in their particular choice of university give them your support during this emotionally tough time. Don’t be dismissive of the fact that your child might feel depressed or sad once they got rejected. Try to go through all the different reasons why they think they were not accepted and try to give them sound advice and encourage to persevere. 

As a personal advice I would tell my child to see a rejection not as a negative experience but as a sign that it would not be the right and best thing for him. I would also remember my child that rejections are simply a part of life – be it in social or professional life. Knowing how to deal with them in an appropriate manner is the key. Furthermore, I would also remind my child that famous people, such as the German topmodel Claudia Schiffer, and many more were rejected at the beginning of their career. They were persistent and didn’t give up, and still they became very famous later on. Your child should have a similar attitude. Create a perception that rejections are just normal in life, and I’m sure your child will not have to struggle so much in overcoming the initial negative feeling. Teach your child at an early age in his life that rejections don’t always need to be perceived as negative. Very often it is just a sign that something better is going to happen in the future and that experience might turn into a very positive one later on.

Some of the key points that you should remember as a supporting parent are: 

* Don’t put too much pressure on your child. 

* Show your genuine interest in what they do, what they have chosen, etc. 

* Before submitting the final version of application: make sure all requirements are properly met, deadlines are met, there are no mistakes in spelling and grammar.

* If your child decides to apply at a Top University you should encourage him, but don’t make false hopes, if they get admitted then great, but otherwise your child should also be realistic. 

Once your child goes to college bear in mind to support him during that time too, don’t just limit your support and advice before the academic year. 

www.theprotocolinstitute.com

I came across the name "Guy Kawasaki" for the first time in 1998 when I read the German version of his book "How to drive your competition crazy". I absolutely loved it! I was very eager to read his latest book release "Enchantment - The Art of changing hearts, minds and actions". 

  * The chapters he covers in this book are:  

MOTOROLA - Founder Paul Galvin came up with this name when his company started manufacturing radios for cars. the popular radio company at the time was called Victrola. 

MICROSOFT - Coined by Bill Gates to represent the company that was devoted to MICROcomputer SOFTware. Originally christened Micro-Soft, the “-” was removed later on. 

HEWLETT PACKARD - Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard tossed a coin to decide whether the company they founded would be called Hewlett-Packard or Pckard-Hewlett. 

HOTMAIL - The name was finally settled for as it included the letters “html” - the programming language used to write web pages. it was initially referred to as hotmail with selective uppercasing. 

APPLE COMPUTERS - Steve jobs may have gotten the idea either from working at a community type farm or from his fascination with Apple Records, also popular with The Beatles. he was three months late in filing a name for the business, and he threatened to call his company Apple computers if the other colleagues didn’t suggest a better name by 5 o’clock. 

CISCO - It is not a n acronym as popularly believed. it is short for San Francisco. 

ADOBE - Adobe Systems were incorporated in 1982 by John Warnock and Charles Geschke. The name evolved from Adobe Creek in Los Altos, California, a river that ran behind the house of one of the company’s founders. 

www.theprotocolinstitute.com

“How much do soft skills really matter?” was the topic of my Key note speech that I presented on Friday, 6th May at the Delhi Gymkhana Club, a very prestigious club in New Delhi. (Imagine, if you want to join this club as a member you would have to wait for more than 30 years!!!) 

I emphasized the importance of communication skills in today’s corporate world which can make the difference between business success or business failure, getting a job or losing a job. 

The highlight of my speech was when I illustrated with personal experiences and stories the impact that poor soft skills can have on companies and employees. 

The well-attended event ended with making the audience more aware of the multiple benefits of Soft Skills Training for companies and individuals. (The speech has been recorded as a video, unfortunately the volume is too low. I wished I could have also published it with this blog post.) 

www.theprotocolinstitute.com

Video Marketing is by far the easiest way to brand yourself as an expert in your market. If you want to create trust, credibility and build traffic all at the same time, using video marketing is by far one of the smartest and most effective strategies you can use for your business. 

In order to understand that video marketing is a great marketing tool for you learn about the 10 benefits it offers ...

1.) First of all, the videos are free. You don’t need to plan for a budget or pay per click. 

2.) Furthermore, you have an international audience that can view your videos on a GLOBAL scale. 

3.) Also, remember, that word of mouth is easy. If your video is really great it is highly likely that people will comment on it and will share it with their friends on various social networking websites.  

4.) Video marketing will help you to improve your search engine rankings on Google, since the video on Youtube highlights your website and many people might visit your site in order to find out more about you or your offer. 

5.) By the way, did you know that you can also make your own customized channel? Bear in mind that whenever a video is added to a Youtube account, it creates one profile channel by itself. Interested viewers usually form a part of this channel and may also take its subscription. You might even consider of sending those people newsletters through emails. It can build your customer list more easily that way. 

6.) As we all know, content is key! Therefore, bear in mind that if you consistently create high quality video content that your visitors want and need you will easily become recognized as the expert in your niche. 

7.) We live in a very mobile world nowadays .... and that allows you to view videos with all kinds of gadgets (mobile phone, ipod, laptop, ipad etc.). What does that mean? That it allows you to access video content anywhere at any time. 

8.) Another advantage is that it engages more senses than written text which only uses one medium. You can appeal to visual learners. Words are fine, audio too, but there is nothing comparable to a video... remember!  

9.) It gives you more credibility. 

10.) And last but not least, there is nothing to loose. Video Marketing is a win-win situation. 

http://www.theprotocolinstitute.com

In the old traditional working pattern, hopping jobs was not a popular thing. Individuals after being academically qualified would get a job and spend their entire life working for the same company and retire happily. Well, that's history! 

As in the present scenario the job opportunities have opened up like never before, which is in a way attracting individuals to shift jobs very frequently. Studies conducted by Bureau of Labor suggest that people in their 20 change their jobs every 18 months and that 75 percent of all working class are job hoppers. 

Loyalty and stability nowadays are being associated with lack of skills and initiative and long term commitment of staying in a job forever is being considered as a career suicide. Supporters of job hopping say that job hopping helps employees increase their profile and help them in achieving a  good salary, contradictory to those employers who pick up a candidate by looking closely at their track records and usually choose those candidates who have not changed their jobs too frequently. 

According to various experts the most common reason for job hopping is the salary. People have a general tendency of constantly comparing their salaries amongst their friends and colleagues at work, which makes them shift places in order to be equal with them. This urge to be equal or be one step ahead of them very often blinds them to change their jobs on frequent regular intervals. They do not realise the long term loss which they could have on their career growth path. Furthermore, many individuals shift jobs because they face difficulty in managing the work load which gets unbearable or the companies’ management where they work for is extremely authoritative. Last but not the least, the presence of hostile and unfriendly environment also results in employees shifting their jobs.

Since every industry requires a specific set of skills and talent, changing jobs has to be a well thought decision. The employee should only opt for a job change if the job offers more responsibility and more opportunities, a higher designation, a good salary package, and helps in learning new things. One should always remember that a job is more than a way of earning one’s living. It is a means of finding and seeking what motivates you as an individual and what you desire to become. 

I can say from my personal experience that I had many different jobs in my career and it just benefited me. I was able to learn so many new things, improved my soft and hard skills considerably, got an insight into different industries and finally enriched my personal and professional network with so many different people from all walks of life. I would say that as long as you are young you should definitely use the opportunity to make as many experiences as possible. Going abroad can accelerate your learning in a way you can't imagine..... 

What do you personally think: is job hopping good or bad? I would love it if you would share your personal experiences on my blog ....

http://www.theprotocolinstitute.com