It is important to note that the information I am discussing comes from "The Platinum Rule" written by

Dr. Tony Allessandra,



The first personality style I will discuss is the director.



Directors are firm and forceful, confident, competitive and determined risk takers. While their impatience sometimes causes eyes to roll, they leave no doubt who sits at the head of the table. The greatest asset of a director is that he or she will out accomplish anybody. The greatest failing of a director is that he or she cannot stand weakness and the greatest fear is being soft.

The best way to describe directors is that they like to deal quickly with problems and they might say something like "Just get me to the bottom line." Directors are rarely interested in abstract ideas and they are impatient. It is not a matter of if a director will take over, it is a matter of when. Directors are also very much into efficiency and not into praise. The only time you might hear a director say "well done" is when ordering a steak.

In my last blog entry I talked about the platinum rule. That is, treat people the way they want to be treated. I am not big one for following horoscopes; however, yesterday my horoscope stated that I should be more aware of people and be sure to relate to them in the way in which they wished to be related. What a coincidence!

In the Platinum Rule there are 4 personality types. They are as follows:

Director
Relator
Socializer
Thinker

It is important to understand that these types are what they are and no one type is more important or better than any of the others. The learning point here is the be able to recognize each type and know how to relate to that person.

In my next entry we will discuss the director.

I am sure many of you have heard of the golden rule. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Dr. Tony Alessandra wrote a book titles "The Platinum Rule." The basis of the book is for the reader to discover the four basic business personalities and how they can lead you to success. The Platinum Rule is "do unto others as they'd like done unto them." Over the next few entries I will discuss these personality types and how you can recognize them and deal with them.

As many of you know I am a member of Kiwanis. Last night I had the opportunity to attend a function in honor of the Kiwanis International President, Paul Palazzola. Paul and I served as Kiwanis District Governors in 1994-95. In his presentation one important point came across loud and clear.

"When you stop getting better that is when you stop being good." These words can be applied to the career development of a candidate and it can be applied to the processes of a company as it tries to improve its standing in the business world.

I can imagine the increased business that the post offices are having these last few days before the 15th.

I am also caught up in resume consulting as a number of candidates are getting ready to make a move for any number of reasons. I thought it would be good to mention a few resume blunders that I have been seeing.

1. Resumes that are full of features without accompishments do not get much attention. By stating your accomplishments you are telling potential employers about your successess. Success in one job will generate success in anothe job.

2. I am seeing resumes that only have the year as a date of employment. This can lead to a misunderstanding about gaps in empoyment. It is generally accepted to have the month and year for the dates of employment.

3. Inaccurate resumes. I ask questions of individuals who submit resumes and find that items may have been left off or omitted for any number of reasons. Honesty and accuracy are the best policies.

It's become hip in certain intellectual circles to write off America's prospects for a return to economic health -- but the truth is that the U.S. is well on the road to recovery, writes Daniel Gross. Thanks to America's inventiveness and resilience, Gross argues, the Dow and the dollar are both back on track, and companies are finally hiring again. "America still leads the world at processing failure. ... If these impulses are embraced more systematically and wholeheartedly, the United States can remain an economic superpower well into the current century," Gross writes.

Think positive. It can't hurt.

Over the years I have learned that money is not the main reason people will take a new job or leave their current job. It is way down on the list. It is the job of the hiring manager, human resources or executive recruiter to find the reason or issue that will motivate a candidate. If you want to influence a persons decision to stay with your company or to bring them to a new company you must focus on showing people that they are trusted, valued and vital to the success of the company. Too much reliance on money will eventually lose its luster and you will lose the employee.

Spring has sprung, the rain has stopped (at least in the short term) and the weather is fantastic. What a great time to sit back and take a look at all the things we have to be thankful for. For me, the list is too long to even start but even if you have only 1 thing on your list focus on it and make the rest of your week be a great one.