I wanted to elaborate on the PPT method for success by sharing an experience with you. It is to further point toward the People (The first and most important part of the PPT method because all phases require people!) phase. Number one people are always going to be involved in your life, like or not. I suggest you try your best to like it. Even if you sit in a room all by yourself Monday through Sunday someone will be involved. Unless you live on the streets then someone will be collecting rent (or a mortgage) and you probably have to work to keep it up (working involves other people in some capacity even if you work from home) and you gotta eat at least something (nuts & berries) which means you have to get it from a store or on the phone or online (which all involves other living breathing creatures like or unlike yourself...gasp!) Now when you are first beginning you may not be able to choose the people who are in your life day to day but you can choose those who are in your inner circle and as you grow more successful then you can even chose who you work with day to day!
About a year ago I met this man. It was actually spring of 2006. During this time I had just decided that I loved entertainment so much that I wanted to work for that industry. I didn't know yet in what capacity exactly or how to obtain it but I knew it was a goal. To start myself off I went to a local mall in Atlanta where a famous celebrity was going to be signing shirts and jeans for his clothing line. I am not star struck but I am a little giddy so I was excited to see him and the models on stage promoting his line and singing one of his songs! The mall was full of excited people who wanted to catch a glimpse of this entertainer/entrepreneur and even get a piece of him if you know what I mean. So how would I stand out...what made me different? I may not have looked better than any of the others and I surely didn't have extra cash to even buy a t shirt at the time but I had fire in my eyes. I decided that was all I needed. I prayed and with wobbly legs went inside alone and stood there enjoying, waiting, and meeting different people in the crowd. When it was over I met some of the entourage which was (only) ok. But the real important career meeting didn't come until after I left the event. I got on the phone to call a friend at the time who had originally told me about the event but couldn't attend, I had to make a deposit into a bank ATM for someone that night and since I had their card I drove to one near by. I was tired...but it had to be done. I was feeling a little defeated because I didn't meet the "star" for a type of opportunity or possibility to work with him. I know it may sound silly that I even thought that was possible but I dream big and think outrageous thoughts 24/7...it keeps life alive! So after I made this deposit and sat in my car I saw this nice luxury car pull up next to me and stay for a few bit. I had just a few moments to make a very important decision. I didn't want me going out to this event being reduced to contacts who really didn't have much pull or with false promises of what they could help me with, so i made my move. I got off of the phone. I figured this person has a nice car so maybe they had money and knew someone or knows someone who knows someone! And they did. I briefly spoke to the man about my goals, plans, dreams and asked him since he looked like money did he know money. I was honest and hoped for the best and the best is still coming from that situation. Now audience I DO NOT recommend this particular situation to everyone ok. I was bold and very ambitious which is great but who knows who could have been sitting in that car (I did see him through the window and it was night time but lights were surrounding the area and we were off of a busy street)! But the choice worked for me because this man was very influential and knew several influential people, and was involved in a very prestigious and exclusive membership club with other members like himself of which he later invited me to attend for a lunch. The gentleman and I exchanged information and even though I wasn't ready to act that day, earlier this year I acted and he was completely instrumental in helping me start my own business by setting up the license and learning the how to. He is now in the process of helping me get money and investing to make more money to use for my business...this does not cost me a dime...not one! Sounds to good to be true I know but it isn't, it's just good. He is also allowing me to meet people who are going to be helpful in getting my business popularity. This person knows other PEOPLE!
I am using this experience and expanded on this point for this reason...to let you know how important people are in life. You are a person and you do make a difference to at least one person in this life! If you feel that you don't but would like to then go out and create that reality. Help someone and befriend someone who can use a person like you. If you become that success then in turn give back so another can benefit. That way there is always a return on your success. I have to fight myself with the People phase of PPT at times because I can be selfish and a loner at times and even a little shy. But I got tired of wondering what if or missing possible opportunities. And some people may not be able to help as you wish but if there is no trying then there is no reward or even the possibility of one. Many times great things do not just fall into your lap, or maybe they will but even with that some work or effort from you and interacting with other people will be required. Pray for those opportunities and people to come into your life and then without guilt but with tons of gratitude take advantage of them! The chance meeting may be happening for a reason. The reason being your dream starting to come true! By the way the meeting at the mall last spring was not a waste at all. Not only because later on the night it put me in the area to meet the successful business man but the experience at the mall kept my dream alive and helped drive me to where I am interning today at the record company where I've gotten tons of support and opportunities only because I am working there! I am sharing with you as I have learned and am still learning, let's do it together!
Miesha White
Monday, August 13, 2007
"Making It" in the business
Many professionals today want to know how to "make it" in their certain field of study or interest. The question is then asked of how. How do i get into the entertainment industry, how do I get into that law firm, how do I work with children at that hospital, how do I start my career in IT?? There are three main ways to accomplish these goals of which I call the, "People, Places, Things" or PPT method. Let me break it down for you...
1. In some cases individuals are lucky to know certain people. It could be that your family has a successful background putting you into the area with a select group of influential people or personalities that can help make things happen for you. This tends to be the easiest way to get ahead and falls into the People faze of the PPT method. Be kind to the people that you meet and interact with because even if your family is not in a state where they may know those type of people you can simply meet them yourself! That guy next to you in class may be the next CEO of a major company of future interest for you so keep in contact. Another girl in one of my classes like myself was starting a business so her and I are networking and planning on helping each other out big time! We both have different pieces of information that will help the other that we can share. Striking up a conversation on the train or elevator from time to time can actually put money in your pocket. I once was fortunate enough to meet a woman on the elevator some years ago while getting mail from a company I was working at during the time. I was simply friendly, smiling, and kind and the woman liked me so much that she gave me her number and told me to call her. I called her later that day to find that she was one of the top three managers at a large firm that wanted me to work with her! Soon I was in a better position making more money and with an amazing boss who believed in me from the beginning. I know that some of you may suffer from terrible shyness or anexiety when speaking to a stranger but practice little by little and try to muster up the courage. I actually can be shy at times and have to talk myself into conversations with a new face! But I promise a smile does go a long way.
2. Places to go and people to see is said from the mouths of busy professionals every day. Well where do you go? You may not meet the special person who can help you get ahead or give you at least the knowledge that they have to get ahead unless you surround yourself in the right place. Don't just sit at home! Many times that place is a normal everyday type of place that you may go and it may be a fluke accident that you meet someone who can guide you in the path to success (or course we know that there are no true accidents in life). If you are in Barnes & Nobles & interested in becoming a wedding planner then you might hit the bridal section isle and may meet someone who is trying to start a wedding planning business of their own. That happened to me. That woman and I met and talked about a possible fusion of ideas and help for each other to get a great business going! I later of course decided that I really didn't want to be a wedding planner and that's ok, the experience and guts to dream always helps. Say you go to the grocery store every Thursday evening you might be picking apples next to someone who mumbles a few words to you, guess who that person might be...?? Well you don't know unless you actually respond back and then can be presently surprised. It doesn't hurt since you are in a place with people to optimize your trip. More effort in some cases needs to be made by joining certain organizations. Some are free and others may have a small membership fee or cost. For starters an organization I am joining (and know others who have joined) WEDA is a women's organization helpful for entrepreneurs and networking. There are free ideas and classes as well as some that cost. Devoting time to help volunteer for a favorite organization for children, or homeless, or the environment is not only a great way to give back to others and focus less on self by making a difference for someone else in need but to meet other people with character who are at these events where conversation is easy and almost necessary! Find out what these people do, become involved, stay involved and keep in contact! They may be able to help you get inside where it would be difficult on your own.
3. The third method is more geared toward college students but not limited to them. You might have to do someTHING else besides be nice at Walmart to the woman in the three piece suit, or go volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. That someThing else is to intern. Intern can be a four letter word to an America who feels that they need money now, and just don't have enough time to give as it is! And I felt the same way until early 2007. Now I say yes it is a four letter word but that four letter word is GOLD! I had to do someTHING else besides go to school, work, socialize with my friends, attend church, and sleep! I thought I was full enough with school and work especially but when an unpaid internship opportunity came to be involved at a popular record company I jumped at the chance. Well honestly not at first. I heard unpaid and almost turned it down until I thought very hard about my future in entertainment and where I desired to go. I "accidentally" found the internship while searching for another job because i was so miserable at the current one I had. I never planned to do an internship but it ended up being the major plan for my life and success. I already knew it wasn't easy to "make it" in an industry where tens of thousands were competing with me. I had prayer and then I had the knock of opportunity at my front door. I "found" the time to give to this internship and was and am being greatly rewarded to this day for my choice! I ended up getting paid on certain projects unexpectedly, was able to go to events I would never had gotten into without this chance, met people who could push me into the right direction and who knew other people who could gladly give me a helping hand and knowledge for the steps I needed to take to succeed! The THING I had to do was give my time and intern. Me being a non traditional (not in my early 20's) college student made that honestly harder (working full time) and even slightly embarrassing (I felt like an old head many days surrounded by vibrant youth) but pushing through my inconvenience and pride ends up being a much smaller feat than not participating and missing out on golden moments and platinum benefits! You never know how the internship will pay (yes pay) off but don't get discouraged! You may not get hired from that particular company right away but it may be down the line when a position comes open so do your best (I even took out trash, swept floors, carried boxes and counted thousands of people in a line to a fun event I didn't even get to attend) as an intern! It could be the internship boosts your resume or the manager of the company may put you in contact with another company or person that has a need in the same field. You might even decide that you really don't want to be an engineer or part of the A&R department for a record company. Instead you may take the business owner route and start your own company in that filed or another! The experience is always invaluable if you open yourself up and allow it to be! So do you have to go back to school to intern?? In most cases yes (yes a doctor must go through years of schooling, etc.) but in some, no. Go to a local school or college and find out more about internships and the requirements, or find out from your old college or friends of yours who may be in college. Even if you didn't go to college it is possible. Go onto the Internet and type internship opportunities and similar searches for your field of interest into the search browser and see what comes up! Even the place where I intern now there are a couple of people there who are already graduated from college or who have never gone some are interns and some have been hired on. I think going to college is optimal in success for most professional careers so going back if needed can be a good thing, however it is not the only way to success and that is a fact. Look at some of the top entrepreneurs in the world...some who did not graduate with a 4 year degree!
So do your best to be kind to people, meet new people, attend places like normal but make the most of your attendance, volunteer, join a group or networking club, and do someTHING extra...intern! Imagine your success today, dream of it and write plans of it as if it is already yours. It's OK to make some mistakes and flub a little along the way. I am still flubbing here and there but I am at least doing someTHING and building my dream a dream that is becoming this reality right before my very eyes and heart. Are you building yours? The best of luck with People Places Things and to your success in your chosen industry!
Miesha White
1. In some cases individuals are lucky to know certain people. It could be that your family has a successful background putting you into the area with a select group of influential people or personalities that can help make things happen for you. This tends to be the easiest way to get ahead and falls into the People faze of the PPT method. Be kind to the people that you meet and interact with because even if your family is not in a state where they may know those type of people you can simply meet them yourself! That guy next to you in class may be the next CEO of a major company of future interest for you so keep in contact. Another girl in one of my classes like myself was starting a business so her and I are networking and planning on helping each other out big time! We both have different pieces of information that will help the other that we can share. Striking up a conversation on the train or elevator from time to time can actually put money in your pocket. I once was fortunate enough to meet a woman on the elevator some years ago while getting mail from a company I was working at during the time. I was simply friendly, smiling, and kind and the woman liked me so much that she gave me her number and told me to call her. I called her later that day to find that she was one of the top three managers at a large firm that wanted me to work with her! Soon I was in a better position making more money and with an amazing boss who believed in me from the beginning. I know that some of you may suffer from terrible shyness or anexiety when speaking to a stranger but practice little by little and try to muster up the courage. I actually can be shy at times and have to talk myself into conversations with a new face! But I promise a smile does go a long way.
2. Places to go and people to see is said from the mouths of busy professionals every day. Well where do you go? You may not meet the special person who can help you get ahead or give you at least the knowledge that they have to get ahead unless you surround yourself in the right place. Don't just sit at home! Many times that place is a normal everyday type of place that you may go and it may be a fluke accident that you meet someone who can guide you in the path to success (or course we know that there are no true accidents in life). If you are in Barnes & Nobles & interested in becoming a wedding planner then you might hit the bridal section isle and may meet someone who is trying to start a wedding planning business of their own. That happened to me. That woman and I met and talked about a possible fusion of ideas and help for each other to get a great business going! I later of course decided that I really didn't want to be a wedding planner and that's ok, the experience and guts to dream always helps. Say you go to the grocery store every Thursday evening you might be picking apples next to someone who mumbles a few words to you, guess who that person might be...?? Well you don't know unless you actually respond back and then can be presently surprised. It doesn't hurt since you are in a place with people to optimize your trip. More effort in some cases needs to be made by joining certain organizations. Some are free and others may have a small membership fee or cost. For starters an organization I am joining (and know others who have joined) WEDA is a women's organization helpful for entrepreneurs and networking. There are free ideas and classes as well as some that cost. Devoting time to help volunteer for a favorite organization for children, or homeless, or the environment is not only a great way to give back to others and focus less on self by making a difference for someone else in need but to meet other people with character who are at these events where conversation is easy and almost necessary! Find out what these people do, become involved, stay involved and keep in contact! They may be able to help you get inside where it would be difficult on your own.
3. The third method is more geared toward college students but not limited to them. You might have to do someTHING else besides be nice at Walmart to the woman in the three piece suit, or go volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. That someThing else is to intern. Intern can be a four letter word to an America who feels that they need money now, and just don't have enough time to give as it is! And I felt the same way until early 2007. Now I say yes it is a four letter word but that four letter word is GOLD! I had to do someTHING else besides go to school, work, socialize with my friends, attend church, and sleep! I thought I was full enough with school and work especially but when an unpaid internship opportunity came to be involved at a popular record company I jumped at the chance. Well honestly not at first. I heard unpaid and almost turned it down until I thought very hard about my future in entertainment and where I desired to go. I "accidentally" found the internship while searching for another job because i was so miserable at the current one I had. I never planned to do an internship but it ended up being the major plan for my life and success. I already knew it wasn't easy to "make it" in an industry where tens of thousands were competing with me. I had prayer and then I had the knock of opportunity at my front door. I "found" the time to give to this internship and was and am being greatly rewarded to this day for my choice! I ended up getting paid on certain projects unexpectedly, was able to go to events I would never had gotten into without this chance, met people who could push me into the right direction and who knew other people who could gladly give me a helping hand and knowledge for the steps I needed to take to succeed! The THING I had to do was give my time and intern. Me being a non traditional (not in my early 20's) college student made that honestly harder (working full time) and even slightly embarrassing (I felt like an old head many days surrounded by vibrant youth) but pushing through my inconvenience and pride ends up being a much smaller feat than not participating and missing out on golden moments and platinum benefits! You never know how the internship will pay (yes pay) off but don't get discouraged! You may not get hired from that particular company right away but it may be down the line when a position comes open so do your best (I even took out trash, swept floors, carried boxes and counted thousands of people in a line to a fun event I didn't even get to attend) as an intern! It could be the internship boosts your resume or the manager of the company may put you in contact with another company or person that has a need in the same field. You might even decide that you really don't want to be an engineer or part of the A&R department for a record company. Instead you may take the business owner route and start your own company in that filed or another! The experience is always invaluable if you open yourself up and allow it to be! So do you have to go back to school to intern?? In most cases yes (yes a doctor must go through years of schooling, etc.) but in some, no. Go to a local school or college and find out more about internships and the requirements, or find out from your old college or friends of yours who may be in college. Even if you didn't go to college it is possible. Go onto the Internet and type internship opportunities and similar searches for your field of interest into the search browser and see what comes up! Even the place where I intern now there are a couple of people there who are already graduated from college or who have never gone some are interns and some have been hired on. I think going to college is optimal in success for most professional careers so going back if needed can be a good thing, however it is not the only way to success and that is a fact. Look at some of the top entrepreneurs in the world...some who did not graduate with a 4 year degree!
So do your best to be kind to people, meet new people, attend places like normal but make the most of your attendance, volunteer, join a group or networking club, and do someTHING extra...intern! Imagine your success today, dream of it and write plans of it as if it is already yours. It's OK to make some mistakes and flub a little along the way. I am still flubbing here and there but I am at least doing someTHING and building my dream a dream that is becoming this reality right before my very eyes and heart. Are you building yours? The best of luck with People Places Things and to your success in your chosen industry!
Miesha White
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