Book Review: be The Red Jacket in a sea of gray suits
Sunday, August 30, 2009
The market is flooded with books on Selling and salespeople find themselves confused what to read and what to put aside. Leanne’s book “be The Red Jacket in a sea of gray suits” is in fact a gush of fresh air in the stale environ of sales literature.
The writer comes down very hard on our belief systems based on assumptions and guides the reader step by step to change the paradigms and filters that we use to make decisions. On many occasions, I literally felt jerks while reading the book. “be The Red Jacket in a sea of gray suits” is a book that challenges you to think and rethink with fresh perspectives.
In a population of around 6 billion, no one is like me. My DNA is unique; my fingerprints are matchless and I am unique creation of Almighty. But when it comes to professional world of Selling, why I cease to be unique and why I wear the gray suit like anybody and why I don’t look like a garden variety and why I don’t de-commoditize myself and why I don’t differentiate my offering and kit of benefits is something we never think of. Leanne teaches you to be “Younique” in “be The Red Jacket in a sea of gray suits”.
Leanne Hoagland-Smith’s book is easy to ready and easy to comprehend. You can read it in one or two sessions without getting overwhelmed with scholastic concepts.
Highly recommended for people in Sales (and by the way, everyone lives by selling something to someone. The selling function starts with first cry for milk by the baby and continues till……).
The book is available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble among other places.
P.S: Concise “Sales Coaching Tips” spread all over the book serve as delicious nuggets.
Posted byAshraf Chaudhry at 2:49 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: Leanne Hoagland-Smith, sales book, The Red Jacket
Thank You for Giving Name to My Suicide Bomber.....
Saturday, August 29, 2009
The plot of my novel is briefly given below.
"An innocent boy of 13 years from mountainous north of Pakistan is enticed by a human smuggler for employment and is sold to extremist organization which recruits potential suicide bombers for their mission to destabilize Pakistan. He gets fours years rigorous training in Afghanistan to graduate as Suicide Bomber.
He goes on a mission to detonate his truck of explosives in a five star hotel where delegates of UNO are staying. A second before detonating, he awakens and runs away and hides from police and his terrorist buddies. He meets an angel who adopts him to make him a nice human being. He gets education in best business institution of the country and joins a multinational oil company as Management Trainee. He ends up in sales department after the training. He ultimately rose to the position of Country Manager. He is transferred to head office in USA where he reaches to the highest position of CEO in his company. All this happens in 20 years."
Suggestions
1. 1 Second Journey
2. A Change of Heart
3. A Change of Life
4. A Choice to The Chosen
5. A Moment
6. A Second Counts
7. A Suicide Bomber Becomes CEO of Fortune 500 Company
8. A Terrorist in the Boardroom
9. A Women Behind a Successful Man
10. Alif
11. An Innocent Victim
12. And End
13. Ashraf's Return to USA
14. Beginning of a New Epoch
15. Between Blowing and Glowing
16. Blinding Heights
17. Blow it up!
18. Bombdog Chief
19. Bomber to Boom
20. Bombs Away
21. Calling Tails
22. Career Bombing
23. Castle of Abrojina
24. CEO-side Bomber
25. Change of Fortunes
26. Change, It's Never Too Late
27. Conscience
28. Creating the Future
29. Criminal Executive Officer
30. Da Pakhtoon Code
31. Dawn of a New Era
32. Death Awakened Me
33. Death to Glory
34. Demolition Man or Savior
35. Desire of Destiny
36. Destination
37. Destined To Greatness
38. Detonating the Past to Explode the Future
39. During the Life
40. During the Stay
41. Dynamic Dose
42. Economic Bomber
43. Escaping the curse
44. Exploring Fate
45. Fanatic Goes to Wall Street
46. Fanatic Meets Brothers at Wall Street
47. Fanatic Meets Masters
48. Fate Changed My Fortune
49. Fate Mach
50. Felo-de-se
51. Fluthering Heights
52. Fortune 500 Bomber
53. From 0 to 38
54. From Bombs to the Fortune 500 desk
55. From Death to Life
56. From Death's Door I was Born
57. From Dusk to Desk
58. From Flames to Freedom
59. From Grave to CEO Desk: A 20 Years Journey
60. From Grave to the Desk
61. From Hell Room to the Board Room
62. From Jungle to Corporate Jungle
63. From Killer to Leader
64. From Paradise to Earth
65. From Plot to a Business Case
66. From Swat to New York
67. From Taking to Giving
68. From the Ashes
69. From Throes of Destruction to Heights of Glory
70. From Tick to Click
71. God Plans
72. God Willing
73. Handsome Ransom
74. Hazara Boy
75. I did it
76. I Made My Destiny
77. In the Line of Terror
78. In the Name of God
79. Inshallah
80. Intersection
81. Inverse Rains
82. Journey from Hell to Heaven
83. 'Just' Happened
84. Juvenile Jannah
85. Life Turnaround Requires only a Second
86. Living Death
87. Lost Identity
88. Lust for Life
89. Million Dollar Bomb
90. Millisecond decision
91. Motivated from Death Trap
92. My Deep Breath
93. My Spiritual Life
94. New Born
95. Night before Destruction
96. Once Upon a Time There was a 'Me'
97. One Second that Lasted for 20 Years of Success!
98. Opportunity often makes a "CEO"
99. Part time Bomber
100. Part time Bomber
101. Peace March
102. Perilous Journey
103. Point of No Return
104. Point Taken
105. Poor Man's Fortunes
106. Positivity out of Negative
107. Promised Land Now or Never
108. Raining Season
109. Rise of the Fortune
110. Rotten Route
111. Rotten Routes
112. Rubble to Riches
113. Running For My Soul
114. Seconds Away to Hell
115. Shadow Warrior
116. Silver Lining
117. Soldier of Fortune
118. Son of Torn Valley
119. Son Rises
120. Story Behind Success
121. Success: A Novel
122. Suicide to Life
123. Terror Detonated
124. The Awaken: Destroyer to Producer
125. The Awakening
126. The Bed of Roses
127. The Comeback
128. The Cradle of Thorns
129. The Decision
130. The Distance of 1 Second
131. The Enlightenment
132. The Fate Game
133. The Fate of a Man
134. The Glorious Bastard
135. The Hope
136. The Impeccable Master
137. The Journey
138. The Moment
139. The New Life
140. The None Factor
141. The Other Life
142. The Playing Moments
143. The Reason Why
144. The Second Life
145. The Shrapnel
146. The Story of Life
147. The Sun will Rise Again
148. The Turning of the Mind
149. The Will to Explode
150. The Yellow Leaves
151. There will be Glory
152. Third Turn
153. Truth about Sawat
154. Turning Point
155. Twist in Life
156. Twist of Fate
157. Twisted American CEO
158. Twists of Fate
159. U turn
160. Ultimate Fighting
161. Unlearning Terror
162. Untitled Story of 21st century
163. Untitled.doc
164. Waking Up
165. Welcome Life
166. Wheel of Fortune
167. When Fate Shakes Hands
168. When Life Gives A Chance
169. When Moments Play
170. Wind of Change
Posted byAshraf Chaudhry at 7:53 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: A Novel, A Suicide Bomber Becomes CEO, Ashraf Chaudhry, Suicide Bomber
A Suicide Bomber Becomes CEO of Fortune 500 Company
Sunday, August 16, 2009
"An innocent boy of 13 years from mountainous north of Pakistan is enticed by a human smuggler for employment and is sold to extremist organization which recruits potential suicide bombers for their mission to destabilize Pakistan. He gets fours years rigorous training in Afghanistan to graduate as Suicide Bomber. He goes on a mission to detonate his truck of explosives in a five star hotel where delegates of UNO are staying. A second before detonating, he awakens and runs away and hides from police and his terrorist buddies. He meets an angel who adopts him to make him a nice human being. He gets education in best business institution of the country and joins a multinational oil company as Management Trainee. He ends up in sales department after the training. He ultimately rose to the position of Country Manager. He is transferred to head office in USA where he reaches to the highest position of CEO in his company. All this happens in 20 years."
This is plot of my motivational novel which will be published worldwide by March 2010. This novel will be a must read by corporate class particularly.
I am looking for a sensational name for this novel. That is the reason of this post. The person whose name will be selected will be duly acknowledged in the intro of the novel. Please suggest a name that conveys the true message. You may suggest name in the comments section.
Warm regards
Ashraf Chaudhry
Author of The Craft of Selling "YOURSELF"
Join me on Social Media
Posted byAshraf Chaudhry at 11:49 AM 48 comments Links to this post
Labels: CEO of Fortune 500 Company, Suicide Bomber
Dress for Success
Friday, August 14, 2009
Among the first things people notice about you is the way you dress and the way you groom yourself. It’s an intact reality that prior to even the winking of one’s eye; your dress promptly reflects your entire personality. It no more remains means of enveloping your corporeal frame, but indeed becomes an index of your entire being. It mirrors your personality. It reveals your clandestine and gets your inside out. It’s more like the lustrous, captivating and enticing cover of the perfume that speaks for the quality packed inside. It’s the shortest key to your ultimate success.
Many highly creative people affect a casual indifference toward their personal appearance, but in reality, they’re making a purposeful statement. They’re saying, in effect, "I'm so good at what I do that I don't have to dress for success."
Henry David Thoreau was such a person. "Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes" he wrote.
If you plan to spend your life in the seclusion, follow Thoreau's advice. If you want to make it to merciless corporate world, pay careful attention to the clothes you wear and the visual impact you’ve on others.
When dressing for the corporate world, follow the standard advice: Dress for inclusion. Look at what the people one or two steps up the corporate ladder from you are wearing and be guided by their tastes. That’s about the closest thing to universal advice that can be given in the realm of dress. Fads and fashions come and go, and what’s in today may be passé tomorrow. Wherever you’re -- in Lahore, Karachi, Mumbai, Dubai, London or Sydney, or Singapore or Luxembourg -- follow the fashion lead of the successful people in your business.
The perennial choice for the corporate executives is the gray or blue suit, with lighter shades in warm weather, darker ones in cool weather. Brown suits are generally regarded as less authoritative than blue or gray ones.
Women have greater latitude for individuality in fashions, but the general rule still applies. In most businesses, it's best to avoid extremes. Seductive or coquettish outfits may draw admiring stares, but they won't enhance your reputation as a corporate woman. The same standard advice for ladies as well: Dress for inclusion. Look at what the ladies one or two steps up the corporate ladder from you are wearing and be guided by their tastes but in all cases your taste should be steered towards a modest dress that compliments and supplements your personality.
Solid colors in women's clothing convey a message of seriousness and character. Plaids and prints are more whimsical. Different colors flatter different women. Find your best colors and stick with them.
Shoes should always be shined and in good repair. Adlai Stevenson, the American statesman, may be remembered for the famous photograph showing the hole in the sole of his shoe. But he’s also remembered as the loser of two presidential elections.
“Mama always said you can tell a lot about a person by their shoes.”
--TOM HANKS, AS FORREST GUMP IN THE MOVIE, FORREST GUMP
Posted byAshraf Chaudhry at 3:39 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: Dress for Success by Ashraf Chaudhry
The Law of Garbage Truck
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
A junk mail that I'd love to read again and again. It carries a great lesson.
"One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly. So I asked, `Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!` This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, `The Law of the Garbage Truck.`
He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they`ll dump it on you. Don`t take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don`t take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.
The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life`s too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so...Love the people who treat you right.. Forgive the ones who don`t..
Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!"
Posted byAshraf Chaudhry at 9:26 AM 2 comments Links to this post
Labels: The Law of Garbage Truck
Why Anthony Robbins Divorced His Former Wife Becky?
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
"What became of your first wife...Becky? You divorced her?"
Anthony Robbins, on October 21, 2002, replied me in detail. Here's what he said:
"Dear Muhammad,
Thank you so much for your e-mail. First, I want to apologize for this belated reply. My intense seminar and travel schedule, along with my business and family responsibilities, have taken a big bite out of my time. However, I wanted to respond personally and acknowledge the time you took to think of me.
I've worked for years to create and present the most innovative, entertaining, and empowering materials possible. However, I know my technology is worthwhile when I receive notes from people like you who are not only emotionally touched by my work, but more importantly, are taking action on what they've learned. To know that in some small way I've made a difference for at least one person and that I have helped them to begin to create the quality of life they truly deserve is what drives me most.
I appreciate your interest in my former marriage. The strategies I share with my audience to guide them on the path to more fulfilling relationships are based on my own personal experience and the knowledge I have gained from working with people from 80 different countries for more than a quarter of a century. Relationships are one of the single most important areas of our lives and one of the greatest opportunities for fulfillment or pain. The secret is making certain the person you select shares your values and vision. Some relationships cannot continue to be fulfilling because the two people have different visions for their lives or have learned to value different things.
While I offer many tools for enhancing relationships, I have never led my audience to believe that the path to a successful relationship would be to stay in a relationship where after deep, honest communication and soul searching both people discover that they do not share the same life vision. Any relationship can be made to work, but when people's values and life directions are extremely different they must compromise. Continuous compromise means a compromised life for both parties. That is when difficult decisions need to be made.
Deciding to end my relationship with my former wife Becky was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made. I am extremely proud of our 14-year relationship. When I entered the marriage at the age of 24 I immediately embraced the responsibilities of being a father to a 17-year-old son, an 11-year-old daughter, and a 5-year-old son. I remained in that marriage until my children were grown and I realized that I did not share a life vision with my former wife. At that time I chose to take the necessary actions to pursue a life in which I could be more fulfilled. Sometime later I met Sage, my lovely wife, whom I met coincidentally through a business relationship, and married a year later. We have been together for a blissful two and a half years.
Again, thank you for taking the time to write, and your patience in receiving a reply. My desire and invitation to you now is that you continue to expand the quality of your life by committing to the philosophy of CANI-Constant and Never-ending Improvement. By doing so, I believe that you will create a life of lasting fulfillment for yourself and for those you care about.
I look forward to our paths crossing again soon. Live With Passion!
Warmest Regards,
Anthony J. Robbins
Chairman of the Board"
Posted byAshraf Chaudhry at 8:30 AM 33 comments Links to this post
Labels: Anthony Robbins' Divorce, Anthony Robbins-Becky Divorce, Becky, Sage
Blessings of Job-hopping
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Q: Why have you changed 10 jobs in 14 years?
A: To get financially sound and stable before getting laid off the second time.
Q: So you knew you would be laid off in the year 2009?
A: Well I was laid off first in the year 2002 due to the first global economic slowdown. I had not got a full-time job before January 2003 when the economy started looking up; so I had struggled for almost a year without job and with compromises.
Q: Which number of job was that?
A: That was my third job.
Q: So from Jan 2003 to Jan 2009, in 6 years, you have changed 8 jobs to make the count as 10 jobs in 14 years?
A: I had no other option. In my first 8 years of professional life, I had worked only for 2 organizations thinking that jobs are deserved after lot of hard work and one should stay with an employer company to justify the saying ‘employer loyalty’. But I was an idiot.
Q: Why do you say so?
A: My salary in the first 8 years went up only marginally. I could not save enough and also, I had thought that I had a ‘permanent’ job, so I need not worry about ‘what will I do if I lose my job’. I could never imagine losing a job because of economic slowdown and not because of my performance. That was January 2002.
Q: Can you brief on what happened between January 2003 and 2009.
A: Well, I had learnt my lessons of being ‘company loyal’ and not ‘money earning and saving loyal’. But then you can save enough only when you earn enough. So I shifted my loyalty towards money making and saving – I changed 8 jobs in 6 years assuring all my interviewers about my stability.
Q: So you lied to your interviewers; you had already planned to change the job for which you were being interviewed on a particular day?
A: Yes, you can change jobs only when the market is up and companies are hiring. You tell me – can I get a job now because of the slowdown? No. So one should change jobs for higher salaries only when the market is up because that is the only time when companies hire and can afford the expected salaries.
Q: What have you gained by doing such things?
A: That's the question I was waiting for. In Jan 2003, I had a fixed salary (without variables) of say Rs. X p.a. In January 2009, my salary was 8X. So assuming my salary was Rs.3 lakh p.a. in Jan 2003, my last drawn salary in Jan 2009 was Rs.24 lakh p.a. (without variable). I never bothered about variable as I had no intention to stay for 1 year and go through the appraisal process to wait for the company to give me a hike.
Q: So you decided on your own hike?
A: Yes, in 2003, I could see the slowdown coming again in future like it had happened in 2001-02. Though I was not sure by when the next slowdown would come, I was pretty sure I wanted a ‘debt-free’ life before being laid off again. So I planned my hike targets on a yearly basis without waiting for the year to complete.
Q: So are you debt-free now?
A: Yes, I earned so much by virtue of job changes for money and spent so little that today I have a loan free 2 BR flat (1200 sq.. feet) plus a loan free big car. I am laid off too but I do not complain at all. If I have laid off companies for money, it is OK if a company lays me off because of lack of money.
Q: Who is complaining?
A: All those guys who are not getting a job to pay their EMIs off are complaining. They had made fun of me saying I am a job hopper and do not have any company loyalty. Now I ask them what they gained by their company loyalty; they too are laid off like me and pass comments to me – why will you bother about us, you are already debt-free. They were still in the bracket of 12-14 lakh p.a. when they were laid off.
Q: What is your advice to professionals?
A: Like Narayan Murthy had said – love your job and not your company because you never know when your company will stop loving you. In the same lines, love yourself and your family needs more than the company's needs. Companies can keep coming and going; family will always remain the same. Make money for yourself first and simultaneously make money for the company, not the other way around.
Q: What is your biggest pain point with companies?
A: When a company does well, its CEO etc. will address the entire company saying, ‘well done guys, it is YOUR company, keep up the hard work, I am with you.” But when the slowdown happens and the company does not do so well, the same CEO Etc will say, “It is MY company and to save the company, I have to take tough decisions including asking people to go.” So think about your financial stability first; when you get laid off, your kids will complain to you and not your boss.
Posted byAshraf Chaudhry at 3:24 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: advantages of jobhopping, confessions of job-hopper., Job hopping
Hold The Hand You Love
Saturday, August 1, 2009
"There's a big difference," replied the little girl. "If I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are that I may let your hand go. But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will never let my hand go." In any relationship, the essence of trust is not in its bind, but in its bond. So hold the hand of the person whom you love rather than expecting them to hold yours .
Posted byAshraf Chaudhry at 5:59 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Book Review: The New Three-Legged Stool by Rick Rodgers
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Life is like a river and most of the people jump on river without ever really deciding where they would end up. In the beginning, they enjoy the float but soon they get caught up in the current. When they come to forks in the river, they don’t consciously decide where they want to go or which the right direction for them is. They merely swim with the current. They are part of mass of the people who know only one thing, that is, jumping on the bandwagon rather than be directed by their own goals set upstream.Personal Finance is such a subject that majority of the people don’t bother to study in their entire life. They wait for the paychecks; pay the minimum amount on credit cards and personal loans; remain under debt the whole life. They, in first instance, don’t save money and if they save, do so without planning and knowledge. Then one day, they find themselves on the edge of Niagara Falls. That is the time they experience the torment of financial fall which they could have avoided by making some wise decisions during the course of journey.
Ever since I launched myself in practical life, I had been reading books on savings and investments. I read from George Clason’s The Richest Man in Babylon to Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad Poor Dad to get guidance and motivation on investing and saving. But Rick Rodgers book The New Three-Legged Stool is very different than what I had been reading. The book is practical; gives case studies from real life; dry numbers don’t make your reading sessions painful. Charts and graphs make the book very much understandable. It talks in detail about three vital parts of Personal Finance, namely:
Leg # 1: Tax-Deferred Savings
Leg # 2: After-Tax Savings
Leg # 3: Tax-Free Savings
After discussing an idea in detail, Rick gives you the summary under “Rick’s Tip” for reinforcement. The book is not meant to be read after retirement; it is has to be read, absorbed and assimilated while you are working. Your today’s decisions will have tremendous impact on your post retirement life. If young grads read this book at the start of their careers, trust me, that will be the best investment they can make in themselves. I highly recommend this book to be included in the curriculum of business schools. Young executives, in their careers, manage the billion dollar portfolios successfully but on personal front they end up as financial losers. Ignorance is no more bliss; it is a curse. Read Rick’s The New Three-Legged Stool and get your Personal Finances on sound support.
Last but not the least, if you don’t have time to read it, don’t make your investing decisions on whims and volitions. Hire a competent financial physician and entrust your finances to his or her wisdom.
Book is availabe at Amazon.
Posted byAshraf Chaudhry at 9:57 PM 1 comments Links to this post
Labels: Personal Finance, Rick Rodgers, The New Three-Legged Stool
Dalai Lama's Instructions for Life
Sunday, July 26, 2009
1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
2. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
3. Follow the three R's: Respect for self, Respect for others, and Responsibility for all your actions.
4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
6. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
7. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
8. Spend some time alone every day.
9. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.
10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
Posted byAshraf Chaudhry at 9:14 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: Dalai Lama, Dalai Lama's teachings
CyberKill is a great science fiction
Saturday, July 11, 2009
In my student days, I was voracious reader of suspense thrillers. But when I joined the crass corporate world some 15 years back, I got detached from fiction and spent more time reading management literature. But somehow, CyberKill, got my attention and I grabbed it immediately.
This is SUPERB read for any one who wants to revel in imagination....for students, careerists and housewives equally juicy...and not just for science fiction fans! But for science students, geeks and techies, it is a real KILL. Run and grab it.
I am avid watcher of movies. From war movies like Troy and Gladiators to Sci-fi like War of the Worlds have always been my favorite. But reading CyberKill gave me more enjoyment than such movies. The plot, the suspense, the dialogues, the concepts are so engrossing and captivating that you feel to be in the midst of happenings. At no point in time, you feel separate from the plot.
If you like science fiction, suspense loaded thrillers, mysteries, or just great writing, mesmerising characters, and great story, Frank's CyberKill is the book you'll love to read.
The writing style of Frank is so grilling that many a times he makes you breathless with hair-raising scenes. While reading CyberKill, you see things unfolding in front of your eyes and he fills your mind with 'what next'.
If you are interested to read about battle bots, havoc wreaked by viruses, blood, weapons, artificial intelligence, revenge of artificial intelligence, science mysteries, KGB, CIA, FBI etc in one book, then lay your hands on CyberKill.
Thank you Frank for giving us a great book. When is the sequel to CyberKill coming? I wish to watch movie based on the CyberKill.
CyberKill is available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Posted byAshraf Chaudhry at 8:53 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: CyberKill, Frank F. Fiore, Science Fiction
The Right Career Move
Sunday, June 21, 2009
(This article written by Ashraf Chaudhry has been published in leading newspaper of Pakistan "Dawn" on July 21, 2009.)
It is great to have options in life. Sometimes, life gives you at platter. But most of the times, it is your core responsibility to create options to grow, expand and rise. Career is one such thing that you cannot risk leaving at the mercy of life.
You need to file a flight plan for your career journey and create a road map to get you the desired results. In the absence of your carefully conceived career plan, your life will be just like flotsam and jetsam at the mercy of vagaries of weather.
While making any career move, following points must be taken into account.
1. Pick a boss, not a job:
Probably, boss is the most important factor in success or failure of your career. If your boss is feeling insecure, your capacity building is at stake. A boss who is skeptical of your capabilities would not allow you to take up new challenges and make new experiments. An easy going boss will make you impotent as you will not avail opportunities to stretch yourself beyond comfy confines.
2. Reconnaissance on the organization:
Before making a career move, one must thoroughly do research on the organization. Does it treat its employees as “potential” or “resource”? Potential is to be tapped while resources are to be consumed.
3. Align your passion with profession:
Unless you passionately enjoy what you are doing, sustainable success will remain an illusion. If you find passion in Marketing and work for Finance which you take as drudgery, chances are you will soon be at war with yourself. Nobody could ever win war against oneself.
4. Erect your second line of defense:
Apart from your primary passion/profession, always find avenues to create your second line of defense. If due to external factors, your primary career becomes redundant, you must have something to fall back upon. So, plan B must be in place all the time. Keep some of your eggs in another basket.
5. Be bold:
Fortune favors the bold and brave only. Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken changed his career at the age of 66 from being a loser salesman to becoming an extremely successful entrepreneur.
Career is just like a baby. You need to have a plan for its feeding, nurturing and nourishing and grooming before it pays back.
Posted byAshraf Chaudhry at 3:12 AM 1 comments Links to this post
Labels: Ashraf Chaudhry, Career Move, Pakistan's No. 1 Sales Trainer, sales trainer, The Craft of Selling "Yourself"
The 10 Commandments of Selling
Friday, June 19, 2009
The consistent violation of The 10 Commandments of Selling has great risk.....a risk of Exodus.....the customer exodus followed by the exodus of the salesperson from employment:(
Posted byAshraf Chaudhry at 8:35 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: Ashraf Chaudhry, Pakistan's 1st Sales Trainer, Pakistan's Corporate Trainers, Pakistan's No. 1 Sales Trainer, sales trainer, The 10 Commandments of Selling
Get Your Resume/Cover Letter Reviewed Free of Cost
Thursday, June 11, 2009
One of the key features of my book The Craft of Selling "YOURSELF" is that I do not take its sale as "one-time transaction". I want to remain in touch with my readers for life long mentoring. To begin with, I am offering free "Resume Review" to all buyers of The Craft of Selling "YOURSELF".
Please email me your Resume at (ashraf@ashrafchaudhry.com) along with proof of purchase. I will personally review your Resume with critical eye and would suggest changes accordingly. The Craft of Selling "YOURSELF" is available at all major book stores of the world. At Amazon, please click on the following links to buy online:
Amazon USA
Amazon Canada
Amazon UK
Amazon Germany
Amazon Japan
Amazon France
For instant download of e-book, please click here.
You may download 1st chapter (A 'Loser' Catches the Train) free of cost by clicking here.
Looking forward to staying in touch with my readers.
Warmly,
Ashraf Chaudhry
CEO/Sales Trainer
Ashraf Chaudhry Associates
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Posted byAshraf Chaudhry at 11:23 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: A 'Loser' Catches the Train, Ashraf Chaudhry, Pakistan's Corporate Trainers, sales trainer, The Craft of Selling "Yourself"
Seminar Partners/Promoters required from all over the world
Sunday, June 7, 2009
I am planning to conduct seminar series all over the world with the name of "Live Simulation of The Craft of Selling "YOURSELF"".
One-day seminar Live Simulation of The Craft of Selling “YOURSELF” will be a life transforming experience for the young graduates and job-seekers. An outline of the seminar is given below.
1. How job-hunting and Selling have same principles?
2. SWOT analysis of job-seeker’s personality
3. How to evolve a Brand?
4. How to position yourself in job-market?
5. How to invent and discover your USPs (Unique Selling Propositions)
6. How to build your brand equity?
7. The fundamentals of packaging (dress for success)
8. Writing your own advertisement/commercial (Big Bang Letter)
9. Success stories of my Big Bang Letters
10. How to write captivating brochure (CV/Resume)
11. How to write killing sales letter (candidates’ Cover Letter)
12. How successful professionals network?
13. 4 Ps of Networking
14. The Ten Commandments of Networking
15. When, where and how to apply for a job?
16. The best days and best months of sending job applications
17. How successful professionals find jobs without any difficulty?
18. What is interview? (It is your sales call).
19. How to train yourself for winning interviews?
20. Learning the science of first impression
21. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) in the interview and their best answers.
22. The 17 irrefutable laws of successful interviews
23. Absolute don’t of interviews
24. How hiring a candidate is similar to choosing a mate?
25. Questions that every interviewee must ask from the interviewer.
26. How to close interviews?
27. How to write ‘thank-you’ note to interviewers?
28. How to negotiate salary?
29. Important factors in salary negotiations
30. Best ways to respond to offer letters
31. How to deal with rejections?
32. What did I learn from cockroaches?
33. Some fundamental principles of life management
Trust me, the participants of Live Simulation of The Craft of Selling “YOURSELF” will enjoy lifelong “unfair advantage" over those who don’t attend.
I am looking for partners/seminar promoters/event planners/social entrepreneurs who can join hands with me in all regions of the world to promote these seminars.
As unemployment is on rise, such seminars will be a hot product for job-seekers and young graduates planning to join organizations.
Interested companies/individuals may contact me at ashraf@ashrafchaudhry.com.
Warm regards
Ashraf Chaudhry
CEO, Ashraf Chaudhry Associates
Author of international best seller The Craft of Selling "YOURSELF"
P.S: Please read my interview with Middle East’s # 1 job portal
P.P.S: I am open networker, you may join me on Linkedin
Posted byAshraf Chaudhry at 2:17 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: Amazon USA, Ashraf Chaudhry, Seminar Partners, Seminar Promoters, The Craft of Selling "Yourself"
Best career advice I ever got.....
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Middle East's No. 1 job site (http://www.bayt.com) has published my interview. To read more please click http://cli.gs/v987UH .
Warm regards
Ashraf Chaudhry
Pakistan's 1st Sales Trainer
Author of The Craft of Selling "YOURSELF"
P.S: Drop your candid comments on the interview and get 1st chapter of my book free of cost.
Posted byAshraf Chaudhry at 10:09 AM 1 comments Links to this post
Labels: Ashraf Chaudhry, sales trainer, The Craft of Selling "Yourself"
Women in Business and Leadership Conference (WIBCON)
Thursday, May 28, 2009
June 4th, 2009; Marriott Hotel, Karachi/Pakistan
Timings: 0830 hrs to 1710 hrs
Gone are the days when business was a male only domain. In the past decade or so, women have been successful in breaking down all corporate barriers and have proved their integral role in top and senior management positions in all spheres of business, government and social sectors.
The workplace of tomorrow will position men and women in competing as well as complimentary roles and it is necessary bring the genders on a single wavelength in order to achieve the organizational goals through joint efforts.
To commemorate the achievements of Pakistani women in leadership roles and to create a platform for promoting a spirit of camaraderie among men and women in the corporate and social sectors, The Pakistan Society of Training and Development (PSTD) and Terrabiz are hosting WICBON ’09, a one day conference on women in business and leadership. The theme of the event is “Shaping the Workplace Together”.
WIBCON ’09 features speakers and panelists like H. E. Ms Yasmeen Murshed – High Commissioner of Bangladesh, Ms Shafqat Sultana – President of First Women Bank Limited, Ms Sherry Rehman – Former Federal Minister for Information, Mr Asad Umer – President Engro Chemical Pakistan Limited, Ms Saadia Naveed – Deputy Managing Director EBM, Dr. Sania Nishtar - Founding President Heartfile, and many others.
The conference will discuss some core issues including Women as Leaders of Change; Shaping the Workplace of the Future; Emerging Trends in Women Leadership; Workplace and Professional Stereotypes; and others in keynotes, presentations, panel discussions and exclusive syndicated sessions.
The participants of the event would include CEOs, Presidents, Directors, Department Heads; Senior Managers; Managers and Executives from all spheres of the corporate, government and social sectors.
This is an excellent opportunity for your female as well as male management staff members to understand the issues related to the increasing role of women in today’s business world and develop a shared insight on ways and means of “Shaping the Workplace Together”.
Click here to download the brochure of the conference. I look forward to the opportunity to host yourself and other members of your organization at WIBCON 2009. Book your places now!!!
Conference Investment: Rs. 5,000/- per participant
I am available to facilitate your participation as well as coordinate special registration and sponsorship deals to suit your needs.
Kind regards,
Arsalaan Haleem | Terrabiz
Suite # 403, Shahwar Trade Centre, Above Standard Chartered, Allama Iqbal Road,
P.E.C.H.S., Block 2, Karachi, Pakistan.
Phone: +92 21 455 0431 | Direct: +92 21 455 8539 | Cell: +92 345 2666 178
Email: arsalaan.haleem@terrabizgroup.com | Website: www.terrabizgroup.com
Book 4 places today and get the 5th FREE!!!
Posted byAshraf Chaudhry at 4:22 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Get Your Resume Reviewed Free of Cost by the Author
Friday, May 15, 2009
One of the key features of my book The Craft of Selling "YOURSELF" is that I do not take its sale as "one-time transaction". I want to remain in touch with my readers for life long mentoring. To begin with, I am offering free "Resume Review" to all buyers of The Craft of Selling "YOURSELF".
Please email me your Resume at (ashraf@ashrafchaudhry.com) along with proof of purchase. I will personally review your Resume with critical eye and would suggest changes accordingly. The Craft of Selling "YOURSELF" is available at all major book stores of the world as well as at Amazon USA, UK, Germany, Japan and France.
Link to amazon USA is http://cli.gs/pStySB
For instant download of e-book, please click at http://cli.gs/Q7zPGj
You may download 1st chapter (A 'Loser' Catches the Train)free of cost by clicking http://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Fcli%2Egs%2FEBaXne&urlhash=pz-T&_t=disc_detail_link .
Looking forward to staying in touch with my readers.
Warmly,
Ashraf Chaudhry
Get connected with Author:
Linkedin: http://cli.gs/DXBHh4
Facebook: http://cli.gs/EXrtj4
Follow me on Twitter: http://cli.gs/EZYgqU
Posted byAshraf Chaudhry at 4:26 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: A 'Loser' Catches the Train, Free Offer, Resume Review, The Craft of Selling "Yourself"
Thank you Linkedin, you have taken me to Amazon! What Next?
Sunday, May 10, 2009
As a Business Executive, I never realized the importance of social media like Linkedin and Facebook. When I jumped into my own business of corporate trainings and consultancy, a friend of mine advised me to join Linkedin. I opened an account and started building my contacts.My book The Craft of Selling “Yourself” was self-published in Pakistan in November 2008 and I opened Linkedin account when the book was in printing. Now interesting story starts.....
I sent mass emails (inclusive of my new friends at Linkedin) for marketing of my book. On 4th January 2009, I was sleeping at 11 pm when my cell phone started buzzing. My wife picked the phone and nudging me she said, “The caller's number does not seem familiar and I think call is from out of Pakistan”. In groggy voice, I said, “Hello”. The caller responded, “Sorry Ashraf, I awoke you from sleep. I am Muhammad Siddique calling from Atlanta, USA”.
I said, “It is all right but Mr. Siddique, I could not recognize you”. He said, “A few days back, you added me in Linkedin ( http://www.linkedin.com/in/siddiquem)” . Although I could not immediately re-call, but I said in courtesy, “Oh, yes, how are you Siddique?” He said, “Ashraf I am fine, thank you. I am Atlanta-based publisher ( http://www.trcb.com ) and I received an email about your book The Craft of Selling “Yourself”. If you want, I can publish it in USA”. By hearing his words, I could not hide my excitement and I said, “Am I watching dream?”. He said, “Ashraf, you are very much awake now and you are not watching dream; we are actually talking.” “Thank you Siddique, what you want me to do?” I asked. “Please send me soft copy of the book and I will get back to you after editorial review”. I was very much excited about this and the only fear that my wife raised was that sending soft copy to an unknown person can be risky. However, after initial debate we both decided to send soft copy to Siddique.
After a week, I received reply from Siddique with the comments of his editorial board as, “Overall, the book is in great shape”. I was quite happy to read such comments. Siddique told me that he would be sending an agreement for signing. Once agreement is signed, team will start working on it. I received draft of agreement and terms seemed quite fair. I signed agreement and things started.
We worked as team for three months. We started fresh editing, proofreading, designing, composing, endorsements and slight changes in the manuscript. Believe me, my wife had many fights with me and I had many fights with the publisher’s staff along our way to make The Craft of Selling “Yourself” possibly immaculate. I secured more international endorsements from people like Dr. Nido Qubein, Ron Kaufman, Bob Urichuck and Stephen Reynolds. I appreciate that Linkedin always helped me to discover such wonderful people.
On 16th April 2009, TRCB put up proposal to amazon.com.Yesterday, on Mother’s Day, my publisher ( Mr. Siddique of http://www.trcb.com ) again awoke me from sleep to congratulate. I heard his voice, “Ashraf, I am sorry; I am again waking you from sleep. Congratulations, log on to Amazon, The Craft of Selling “Yourself” is up.”
Thank you Linkedin, you gave me angel like Muhammad Siddique who has taken me from nowhere to Amazon. Trust me, book is very much there http://cli.gs/sAgaZT .
P.S: “You” are the most valuable product on earth. Your talent and your skills are all unique. The Craft of Selling “Yourself” guides you to formulate a road map to claim best price on “Yourself”. It is a wonderful resource on job-hunting, as one of the endorsers, say, “No one should remain jobless after reading this book”.
P.P.S: Free download of first chapter A ‘Loser’ Catches the Train is available at http://cli.gs/EBaXne .
P.P.P.S: I am great beneficiary of Linkedin, my networking will continue non-stop (http://www.linkedin.com/in/ashrafchaudhry)
Regards
Ashraf Chaudhry
Posted byAshraf Chaudhry at 10:59 PM 4 comments Links to this post
Labels: Ashraf Chaudhry, Linkedin, The Craft of Selling "Yourself", TRCB.com
HR means HIGH RISK
Thursday, April 30, 2009
After 10 years of selfless service, a man realized that he has not been promoted, no transfer, no salary increase no recommendation and that the Company is not doing any thing about it. So he decided to walk up to his HR Manager one morning and after exchanging greetings, he told his HR Manager his observation. The boss looked at him, laughed and asked him to sit down saying;
Myfriend, you have not worked here for even one day.
The man was surprised to hear this, but the manager went on to explain.
Manager:- How many days are there in a year?
Man:- 365 days and some times 366
Manager:- how many hours make up a day?
Man:- 24 hours
Manager:- How long do you work in a day?
Man:- 8am to 4pm. i.e. 8 hours a day.
Manager:- S! o, what fraction of the day do you work in hours?
Man:- (He did some arithmetic and said 8/24 hours i.e. 1/3(one third)
Manager:- That is nice of you! What is one-third of 366 days?
Man:- 122 (1/3x366 = 122 in days)
Manager:- Do you come to work on weekends?
Man:- No sir
Manager:- How many days are there in a year that are weekends?
Man:- 52 Saturdays and 52 Sundays equals to 104 days
Manager:- Thanks for that. If you remove 104 days from 122 days, how many days do you now have?
Man:- 18 days.
Manager:- OK! I do give you 2 weeks sick leave every year. Now remove that14 days from the 18 days left. How many days do you have remaining?
Man:- 4 days
Manager:- Do you work on New Year day?
Man:- No sir!
Manager! :- Do you come to work on workers day?
Man:- No sir!
Manager:- So how many days are left?
Man:- 2 days sir!
Manager:- Do you come to work on the (National holiday )?
Man:- No sir!
Manager:- So how many days are left?
Man:- 1 day sir!
Manager:- Do you work on Christmas day?
Man:- No sir!
Manager:- So how many days are left?
Man:- None sir!
Manager:- So, what are you claiming?
Man:- I have understood, Sir. I did not realise that
I was stealing Company money all these days.
Moral - NEVER GO TO HR FOR HELP!!!
HR=HIGH RISK
Posted byAshraf Chaudhry at 12:29 AM 2 comments Links to this post
Labels: HR means High Risk, Role of HR
President Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry with Ashraf Chaudhry
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Posted byAshraf Chaudhry at 10:15 AM 3 comments Links to this post
Labels: Ashraf Chaudhry, LCCI
Tug-of-War between Sales & Marketing
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
I have the privilege of working for both departments in various organizations. What I saw was an inherent tug-of-war between the two departments. If the products sells, Marketing rushes to take the credit that it created pull while Sales say that it was because of push.
If product fails to take off, Marketing blames the Sales of not pushing the product and Sales accuses Marketing of creating no pull. The blame-game is conspicuous in organizations where each department has its own Head reporting to COO/CEO.
When objectives of both departments are the same then why there is lack of synchronization and harmony in the working of two vital departments and how a convenient marriage can be arranged between Sales & Marketing so that there is harmony and smoothness in the way of achieving objectives.
Posted byAshraf Chaudhry at 2:39 AM 1 comments Links to this post
Labels: Marketing, Sales, Tug of war, tug-of-war
The 10 Marketing Lessons from CJ's Reinstatement Campaign
Friday, March 27, 2009
Assumptions/Comparison
CJ’s Campaign, Marketing Campaign
Chief Justice, Brand
Aitzaz Ahsan/Kurd, Brand Manager
Lawyers, Business Organization
Government, Competition
Abdul Hameed Dogar, Competition’s Brand
Political Parties, Brand Activation Team
Long March, Town-storming/BTL
Media Campaign, ATL
Independence of Judiciary, USP
Anthem, TV Commercial
Army/America, Invisible Forces
Marketing Lessons
1 Any brand with a high promise of value is bound to rise and recover from temporary setbacks.
2. You need a competent and committed Brand Manager who believes that brand and a brand manager rise and fall together.
3. Irrespective of resources, competition cannot capture the market for a considerable period of time with a brand having no promise of value.
4. Narrow the focus of your campaign/message, the greater the impact on the customers.
5. A business organization must have firm belief in its brand. First, you have to buy the product yourself before others buy it.
6. You need an involved brand activation team to create thrill on ground.
7. A well-organized town-storming activity is vitally important to have decisive results on ground.
8. Invisible forces come to support only if the brand has high brand equity and marketing campaign is superlatively overwhelming.
9. Always catch the USP that is closer to the customers’ heart.
10. Competition’s brand with no brand value for customers ultimately has to accept its defeat, sooner the better.
I’d welcome any feedback and comments.
Posted byAshraf Chaudhry at 9:32 PM 1 comments Links to this post
Labels: Ashraf Chaudhry, Chief Justice, Marketing Lessons
