The Ascendence Group

Expectation #12: The lifecycle of a startup

There is a fairly predictable emotional cycle that entrepreneurs experience when building a new company. Insiders call it the “lifecycle of a startup”. Phase 1 is the period of uninformed optimism. You don’t know what you don’t know and you are on your way to creating the next Google. Then Phase 2 hits and you experience a period of informed pessimism. You think, “Maybe this idea just isn’t that great.” For those that are able to claw their way out of the second stage, they will reach Phase 3: the period of informed optimism (and success!).

Much like the founder of a start-up, you will likely experience each phase of the rollercoaster.

Expectation setting #12: At the end of the rollercoaster is the pot of gold. …

Expectation #11: Enjoy the trip

A friend of mine went on a “boys’ trip” to Vegas last year. Instead of enjoying the company of friends, he spent the entire weekend mad about all the work he had waiting for him back at the office. Later, he admitted missing everything that should have been great about his vacation.

If you simply focus on being out of a job (or trying to land a job), you will miss out on the experiences that make networking so enriching. Think of it this way: at what other point in your life will you take this much time to meet so many people again? Certainly not when you’re working.

Expectation setting #11: Enjoy the people you meet, you may not get this chance again. …

Expectation #10: Climbing the 100 day wall

In networking (particularly networking to find a job), people tend to hit a “100 Day Wall”. After about three months, people get very frustrated with the lack of results. Many will jump into a contract or full-time role that’s lower than their skill level just so they get off the networking circuit. Others may just give up.

Most of these people started their networking from scratch or had limited networks. If you are in a similar situation, expect to hit that wall. But take heart, those 100 days are going to start to pay off soon, so just keep working the plan (see “Getting Started: Search Document Triple Threat”).

Expectation setting #10: If you hit the 100 day wall, use your networking plan to climb over it. …

Networking Purposefully: Getting What You Want While Networking

Want the inside scoop on how to get in front of the shakers and makers who will grant you access to the career you’ve been trained for, the career you so ardently want — and the salary you wish to earn? Then this video is for you.

Video highlights:

• Learn how to build the most important kind of connections – vested interest connections – and ensure those people will be champions for your career.
• Develop a successful networking meeting roadmap – the same one that is used by the world’s best networkers to get what they want.
• Understand how to uncover areas where you can add value to your networking contacts. This is one of the most critical skills to master when building a powerful professional network.

Expectation #9: Brevity is the soul of wit

For those that are not working (AKA “in transition”), it’s easy to forget that the people you are meeting with are very busy. Don’t compose long e-mails, expect immediate call backs or expect others to be on your clock.

Expectation setting #9: When you reach out to network, remember how busy others are and act accordingly. …