Successful Blog

Interview 14: Jason Alba Knows the Value of Relationships

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Jason’s Dream

Jason Alba

Jasonn Alba had a dream. That’s what he called it. You might call it a vision. He saw too many people who found themselves without employment and with no network or networking skills to support their need to get back into the work force.

Jason’s dream was to build a a personal relationship manager that allows folks to nurture their most valued relationships – for the lifetime of a career! Jason is a natural relationship blogger.

I got to talk to Jason on the phone yesterday. We agreed to this interview. I’m hoping it might be able to get him to SOBCon. He’s the kind of guy who would add great ideas to the audience mix.

Jason, When I first visited Jibber Jobber, your site, some time ago, I thought it was a job recruiter site. Now I know it’s more. Why would someone want JibberJobber while they still have a job?

It’s true there is an area in JibberJobber to manage a job search. But it’s much more than “job search” software. JibberJobber is a personal relationship manager – relationships may be the most important thing to direct your career! Statistics claim that jobs are filled by networking between 60-80% of the time.

JibberJobber is your personal relationship manager. Understanding, managing and growing your network is important for everyone: student, entrepreneur, job seeker, cubicle warrior, executive, artist… don’t we all have relationships to manage.

It makes sense to network (build relationships) when you don’t need to. And it makes sense to start using JibberJobber when you don’t need to look for a job!

As an added bonus there are other features that make sense in managing a career. A place to store elevator pitches. An interface with Google Maps to get directions to your contacts or target companies. A relationship management goals tool. A view of your network graphically, which will allow you to see how wide and deep your network really is. There’s a ton of features in the system – but just realize it was designed to give you professional tools to use in your personal career management.

What was the inspiration behind Jibber Jobber?

It started when I lost my job in January of 2006. I was using a homemade spreadsheet to keep track of who I talked to, where I sent my resume and where I was at with each job I had applied to. It was okay at first but as my job search went on the amount of data grew… and it became a mess (and I even studied how to manage data in college)!

I thought “what if I could take the CRM tools (like Goldmine or SalesForce) and marry them with what career experts tell us to do? That would be an awesome, useful tool for just about anyone!” And that’s what we did – we made it web-based and we made it very affordable (90% of the program is free, with an optional upgrade for $10/month).

It incorporates advice from master networkers, job coaches, resume experts, etc. Put all of this together and you have an excellent personal career toolset.

What part does the Jibber Jobber blog play?

I started blogging last June – and haven’t stopped since then! I love to blog about career issues – sometimes I talk about specific job search techniques but I love paradigm-shifting topics. My most commented post is in response to a monthly award I give called the “You Get It” award for people that use the web to quantify their personal brand. The winner put that she is associated with PETA, and one of my readers commented that some people association PETA with terrorists — and the pursuing conversation was incredible!

So I blog on personal branding, networking (social and unsocial), job search stuff, recruiters and general career management. Its been a blast and I enjoy the conversations around the issues.

Jason sees a bigger picture. He sees how relationships move with us from job to job and from career to career. Jason has found a way to help us keep our business relationships thriving and part of our lives, despite the mobility of the job market and the world in which we live. Plenty of testimonials tell the value of what he’s built.

That’s why Jason is hoping to make it to SOBCon 07 in Chicago in May.
He knows everything he learns about relationship blogging can only add to the effectiveness of what he does and that every relationship he makes will only strenghten his business.

Thanks for the interview, Jason! Hope to see you in Chicago

Don’t let important relationships you value slip away over time. Sign gn up for Jason’s easy to use managment tool. Jason is offering a special lifetime upgrade of JibberJobber premium for only $99 (that’s down from $495), but its only available through April 9th. The price goes back up after Monday!

Then come meet Jason at SOBcon with me.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Reister Now for SOBCon 07, the hotel is sold out except for our special rate room block. The content-rich presentations all demonstrate how to take your blog and your business to the next level though conversation and relationships that turn readers and customers into brand-loyal evangelists.

What Lorelle Said Yesterday . . .

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The Successful and Outstanding Blogger Conference – Will You Be There?

The SOBCon07, the Successful and Outstanding Blogger Conference, will be May 11-12, 2007, in Chicago. If you want a closer relationship with your readers, and the increased traffic and benefits thereof, make a point of attending. — Lorelle at WordPress

Read the entire article. It’s an awesome description of a blogger’s growth.

Well? Will you be there?

–ME “Liz” Strauss

The 5-Point Strategy to a Powerful Network

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A Networking Story

Strategic Plans logo

Last Sunday, we released the announcement for SOBcon 07. It’s a relationship bloggers’ event. We lived our message. We reached out to our friends for help in spreading the news — if they believed the event was worth talking about on their blogs. Most everyone we asked to help has blogged about the event. We’re so grateful.

When we reached out to the folks to ask their help, something happened behind the scenes. Certain people I wrote emailed me back almost immediately. A few called or skyped. They had questions about the event. Those people, all friends and colleagues, contacted me for one of these reasons.

  1. They knew the people involved, and offered congratulations.
  2. They asked for more information upon which to make their decision.

In networking terms, their friendship, influence, and credibility and my friendship, influence, and credibility were talking to each other.

The 5-Point Strategy to Building a Powerful Network

Networks of people can be powerful influencers. A network of influencers expands our knowledge and our reach by engaging the power of “WE.” The problem is that networks take time to build and require attention.

You might have heard “It’s not what you know, but who you know.”

That’s not exactly true.

A powerful network requires two qualities: limited size to keep it sleek and easy to interact with, and people of like mind so that their connections and your connections are likely to be of the same quality.

Here is the 5-point strategy to build that powerful network.

  1. What you know is important. Learn as much as you can. Know what you know. Know its value. Don’t over value it. Don’t under value it. Understand how common or rare your knowledge and skill set are.

  2. Networks are built from relationships. Address books are filled with contacts. Relationships grow and expand as they age. They also require time and interaction to be of value. To build a top-notch network of people, choose people you would bet your reputation on — people who have your standards and similar goals. They will always connect to other people that you want to know.

  3. Who knows what you know is important. Read that again. Who knows what you know is important.Do you know the influencers in your market? Find ways to share your expertise with people who have influence. Influencers naturally talk about people who are great at what they do. Influencers are often asked for recommendations. How might you offer them a service that would put you on the edge of their network?

  4. Take an interest and be the first to offer a favor. When you meet someone of quality, ask questions, listen actively, and be the first to give a favor without strings. People remember sincere curiosity and true generosity, especially the first time it happens. Make friendships and relate positively to everyone that you meet.

  5. Listen for when a mentor appears, and welcome him or her gladly. Mentors are hard to find when we’re looking. They find us and show themselves by offering advice or wisdom to see whether we recognize it. Don’t miss (or mistake) the mentors who will come your way, offering their experience and connections. They see something in you.

These five points will lead to a network that is more powerful than most folks develop. It will be a group of people within the larger group of folks we know — a network built from relationships that are thoughtfully matched. Not everyone we meet is a lifelong friend. We already knew that.

Why am I thinking of kissing frogs and a prince?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
If you think Liz can help you find focus or direction, check out the Personal Virtual Manager on Work with Liz!! page.

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