Small actions can often lead to big outcomes and have a large and very significant impact on our lives. For example, one “small” action of putting my resume 6 years ago in the Monster database so I could be “found” by prospective employers was the seed planted that eventually led me to this awesome role at The Arland Group, and in my personal life, to the house and city where we chose to plant roots and have a family. Never would I have thought that such a “small” action could be responsible for so much. Perhaps the action was not so “small”?

To connect the dots, my resume was “found” by Monster itself where I was introduced to Jason Wood, one of the founders of The Arland Group. At Monster I also met a colleague who told me, while we were house shopping, about a house for sale near her. I didn’t know much about the area but the house and location seemed right. As it turns out, we have 2 ponds and 4 parks within walking distance, our daycare is 2 blocks away, all errands from groceries to Target to the mall to awesome restaurants and theatres are all within 10 minutes. And we have great neighbors.

If you think back to how you got where you are regarding friends, where you live and where you work, think of the actions you first took, the first seed you planted, to retrace your steps and connect the dots. Purposeful, conscientious actions that might appear “small” can lead you to great things so be mindful as you choose “small” actions of the amazing impact they can have on your life down the road and for years to come. It will most likely not be clear when you first plants seeds what the fruits will be exactly but eventually with many quality seeds the garden you see blooming will be one that gives you joy.

In a job search, first, leave no stone unturned. Use every contact you have because you never know where it will lead you.

1. Make a target list of friends/contacts and send them an email with a personal note about your background and what types of jobs and companies you are interested in and why/how you can benefit them. Give them tangible information that they can plant in their minds to help you and take specific steps on your behalf. To tell people “hey, let me know if you hear of anything” does not give people a clear path toward helping you.

2. Make a target list of employers that are of interest to you.

3. Make a target list of employers that need your skills the most.

4. Make a “contact plan”, a personal marketing plan, to how and when you will methodically contact everyone with a “1-2 punch”: an email and phone call. Then maintain regular (monthly atleast) contact to keep yourself top of mind and be there when the opportunities arise.

5. Identify and attend all possible networking events.
Online, put your resume in all possible databases that fit your background. Some employers subscribe to many or just one so join them all to be “found” for your dream job.

6. Set up search agents on all relevant websites and search engines (Indeed, Simply Hired).

7. Immerse yourself in resources (books, websites, blogs, etc) that provide more detail on career management websites, search engines, networking sites, cover letters, resumes, interview skills, etc.

Once you take these actions and plant these seeds, the responses will come, the momentum will carry you on your job search which will officially be started and well on its way. All of the above may seem “small” -and each takes minutes to do- but it will be these “small” actions individually that collectively lead you to the next chapter in life and potentially your own blooming garden and hopefully a dream job.

After working in the industry for more than 11 years I know a thing or two about service. I had to stop and think a minute about the number of years and number of establishments I have worked in… Actually it took close to 5 minutes to remember all of the restaurants and bars who employed me. I have worked at 19 establishments in 3 states and 5 cities. You name it, I probably worked there. I started serving in high school at chain restaurants, then at a country club, and after college I bartended at a few bars and nightclubs. I have to say I enjoyed almost every minute of it. There is something about the social aspect and competition of the service industry that really shaped me. It gave me the personality I have now and also helped me grow a tough skin.

The main goal of working at restaurant or bar is to make sure the customer has an enjoyable experience form start to finish. These days I like to say I have “retired” from the industry! My friends call me a server’s worst nightmare. Through all my experience I can tell when someone is just having a bad day or truly does not care about their job. I am not saying I was not without faults at times. I forgot orders, spilled drinks, and occasionally just did not want to be at service to others. But I always tried to live by the motto “leave all your trouble at the door” I was there to make money and bad service does not lead to gratuitous customers. Especially in times like these going out for dinner and drinks can be expensive, and if we are going to spend money and tip accordingly we deserve good service! This is why I believe in a company like DiscrEAT Consulting.

DiscrEAT Consulting is a boutique hospitality consulting company with a dedication to helping our partners achieve success through industry insight and focus on customer service. Our evaluators are hand selected and play an important role in helping our partners create the ultimate dining experience. It is essential for hospitality establishments to identify their strengths and weaknesses and position themselves properly within a market. We help our partners gain a detailed understanding of their customers, operate with greater efficiency, and provide better and more consistent service; which all impact the bottom line. It’s the experience from beginning to end that keeps your customer coming back for more.

If you are interested in becoming an evaluator or you are in the hospitality industry and would like to inquire about our services please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

As I got older, I was always chosen as teacher”s pet and got to be the classroom informant when the teacher had to step out into the hallway or over to the principal”s office. I would plead with the kids in class, “Please, please be good! I don’t want to write your name down and get you in trouble!” FYI, being the class nark scores you serious brownie points with teachers, but not so much with your classmates. Somehow I escaped getting the crap beat out of me at recess all through elementary school, although I do recall taking some exceptionally hard throws near the head in dodge-ball.

In my teens and into my early 20s, I tried to shake the good girl image, but it was never natural for me to be bad and so I was stuck with this label that I began to loathe. I tried to defy nature by wearing outrageous outfits and cutting spikes into my hair like a punk rocker, but failed miserably. People would say, “Oh don’t you look cute!” when I was decked out like Joan Jett. And, dressing up like one of Adam Ant”s groupies just didn’t seem believable when I was still riding around town on my pink Huffy ten-speed. Nope, and I found out that I was just too nice to deviate from my “goody-goody” attire found at JC Penney’s.

Fast forward a few (several) years when I was going for an internal promotion at my job. I remember one of the interviewers saying, “Oh, now I know who you are! You’re that really nice girl from floor four.” From the way the comment was delivered, I didn’t know whether to be offended or say thank you because seriously, that is not what I wanted to be known for. What about my impeccable work ethic, my unmatched productivity, impressive product knowledge or my willingness to be a team player? But, of course, I took the high road and smiled and nodded yes.

Now that I think about it, I’m glad that I was regarded as nice and not considered a jerk. I mean, who wants to be labeled as a jerk? And, anyway, what’s wrong with smiling at people and being the one who waves hi from across the room at a meeting? If you ask me, it’s a rare talent to be nice all of the time.

And, if you are ready to stick your fingers down your throat, then I challenge you to be nice to everyone you interact with for the next month. Smile, do the parade wave, and converse pleasantly with everyone. I think you will have a new found respect for me and my fellow goodie-two-shoes, because it’s not as easy as it looks. And, if it makes you feel a little better, relish the fact that I have three teenagers at home who tell me at least once a week how I am the meanest parent in town. “Mom, are you kidding me? You are so mean to make me___________” (insert major atrocity imposed by mean mom, such as “clean my room, wash the dishes or study for my math test” in the blank.) Ah, finally, a breakthrough!

This truly warms my heart because, at last, I can shake the good girl image.

Author at Age 6

1. Twitter: My relationship with twitter has had its ups and downs. At first, it was silly, frivolous and something for people to kill time at their jobs. Then I started to realize what a great business tool it could be, not only for The Arland Group, but also for our clients. Now, I’m fully vested, managing many of our client’s Twitter brands, and also establishing my personal brand (@arlandkeith). Like most Twitter users, I started out as read only, then found my voice, which is a mixture of work and promoting my hobbies, mainly cycling.

But what I love most about Twitter is it’s ability to allow me to digest media. I can scroll through my feed in about 15 minutes and open up to 30 new windows with articles I am interested in. It’s reduced the time I spend surfing the internet by probably 75%. It’s my own personal filter.

2. East of Eden: I used to be a voracious book reader, now I’m lucky to get through two books a year. I’m currently knee-deep in John Steinbeck’s East of Eden, and absolutely loving it. I was on a big non-fiction kick for the last five years, and forgot how good a novel could be.

3. Music: Three albums on repeat:

1. Roots – How I Got Over
2. Fionn Regan – The Shadow of an Empire
3. Sleigh Bells – Treats

4. Tour de France: I first starting watching the Tour de France about seven years ago, mainly attracted to the scenery. Everyday, it was like watching a live travel show through some of the most beautiful places on Earth. The riders were almost secondary. Today, the scenery still impresses me, but I watch more for the sport. Hands down, cycling is my favorite sport (sorry baseball!), and an excellent and inspiring way to start my mornings in July.

5. Text Messaging: I’m about five years late on this, but I have finally come around to the value of text messaging. Not only does it eliminate the time I spend on the phone, but it also reduces voice mails.

By the way, if you are known for hating every boss you work for, you shouldn’t work in recruitment marketing sales. I technically have about 45 leaders in my life, all and I answer to each one as if he or she is the President of The Arland Group. My friends ask me, “How annoying is that, reporting to so many people?” I don’t have to think long before responding, “Yeah, sometimes it’s not so fun and can be overwhelming, but I love what I do!” I am still in awe that after 2 years on the job I still get excited when starting my work day. I consider myself pretty lucky as many people I know can’t stand what they do for a living. For me I find satisfaction in that every day at Arland is different. Every day I learn something new. Every day I get to make an impact on our partners’ recruiting missions, saving them time or money or improving their brand equity. And, I enjoy the challenge that comes with juggling multiple projects. Trust me! There is never a dull moment in my life! This is a very good thing for someone like me who has adult ADD. Most of all, I love the relationships that develop along the way. So many of my clients become good friends and there is wonderful sense of camaraderie- who could ask for more? I’m happy to say that I answer to many chiefs and dig every minute of it!

But for the the meeting to be successful, both parties (us and the client) have to bring their A-game. If we come flat, or the client is afraid to talk, the meeting has little chance of accomplishing its goals. So, in the spirit of Rob Bass and DJ E-Z Rock, here are the keys to an all killer and no filler kick-off meeting.

1. The venue: 90% of our kick-off meetings are at our clients’ offices. Sort out the logistics before hand, making sure your presentation works on a Mac or PC and you have hard copies if neither works. Get head counts and attendees in advance so you know who you’re speaking to, and make sure everyone off-site has a copy of the presentation in advance. Nothing kills the momentum of a meeting more than the headliner taking 10 minutes to get their act together.
2. The audience: Everyone wants an engaged audience, but how do you motivate the khaki and collar crowd that often would rather be anywhere else than another meeting. It’s all about size. Too many people and chaos will ensue when people decide they really enjoy to hear themselves talk. Too few people and people are either afraid to talk, or more damaging, people are afraid to be honest. For branding kick-off meetings, we love to have between six and 10 people involved.
3. The mix: Almost as important as the size of the audience is their mix. Most of our clients want to invite the entire marketing or communications department to a branding meeting. Bad idea. Too many similar people with similar ideas of how things should be done. We love to bring together a diverse group of employees from different departments and different experience levels. Whether we are launching a product, company employment brand
4. The show: You have to have the goods. Fortunately, The Arland Group has the goods. Also, don’t talk a lot about yourself or your agency. Nothing kills momentum more than scrolling through slide after slide of your company history and portfolio.
5. The after-party: It’s essential to celebrate wins, not only for moral, but for motivation for the next meeting.

Well, sixteen years and two daughters later, we’re still going strong and he still plays a mean guitar. Needless to say, he did not end up becoming the next big rock hero but that doesn’t mean he’s not a hero. Not unlike The Arland Group, he turned out to have many different layers and one is that he’s an awesome dad. He’s the one who always makes sure Grace takes her vitamin or that she washes her hands before dinner and he stops to listen to everything she has to say (and she says a lot). He’s the one who gives Vivienne her bedtime bottle and puts her to sleep every night and he rarely tries to get out of changing a diaper. He never misses a day of work, a birthday, school play or a chance to show his family how much we all mean to him. And although all the ladies may not think he’s a star, he has three girls who wouldn’t know what to do without him.

Moral of my story: Whether it be in business or your personal life, sometimes it’s worth taking a chance on the less popular choice . You might get a whole lot more than you thought was possible.

Happy Father’s Day to all the Rock Star Dads out there!

The Taxi development gets its name as it was Checker Cabs’ former dispatch building.  Envisioned by Mickey Zeppelin of Zeppelin Development, Taxi makes every possible attempt to incorporate the building’s former identity into their own aesthetic.  Raw lumber and polished concrete, corrugated steel and pink tinted windows, mid-century modern furniture and folk art.  The lobbies and hallways still have painted lanes on the floor where the cabs used to line up for dispatch.  It’s truly an eclectic space.  So, when Mickey and White Construction decided to develop the Taxi-adjacent “Freight” project, and gave us time to sit down with the architects to design our own space, we smiled and giggled with excitement!

We “Arlanders” work in a world that we create.  Hip, professional, casual, exciting and just plain fun.  What an amazing opportunity to collaborate with talented people and create a space that is an extension who you are.

Last night, members of The Arland Group’s creative team, attended the “ground breaking” (can you have a ground breaking if you repurpose a building?) ceremony at Fuel Cafe, an amazing bistro on the Taxi property.  Remodeling of the mid-century shipping terminal will be the next evolution in creative work spaces.  It’s common spaces and amenities will promote collaboration and imagination.

The Arland Group’s space will fall nothing short of the eclectic nature here at Taxi.  Imagine:

• Black concrete floors
• A 30′ w by 15′ h chalkboard wall
• 30′ long shelving where the creatives can display items of design inspiration such as: Buddhas, vinyl toys, record album covers, thrift art, vases, and of course some of Ryan’s troll dolls.
• 20′ wide opening garage door
• A ramp to ride your bike straight into the office
• Custom bike racks suspended from the exposed steel trusses
• Vintage theater pavilion lighting (you know, hundreds of tiny light bulbs!)
• >>> I’d like to plant a 20′ tall aspen tree in the floor, but we’ll see how far that goes ….

Consumers searching for your business and products want the information they need and want it fast! Without a mobile makeover, a site, especially on flash, does not work for several reasons:

1. Tiny text
2. Difficulty in navigation
3. Flash images don’t load
4. Limited content

All making costumer decisions regarding use of your product difficult!

Once we make your site mobile friendly your customers get full access! For a restaurant like Gibson’s Steakhouse this means all access to what they have to offer. As our creative director here at TAG often says, “It is like dessert for your current marketing efforts. It may be the last thing you think of… but it’s the sweetest!”

Gibson’s now gives customers links to their:

1. Menu
2. Location
3. Social Media Sites
4. Private Parties
5. Reservations on Open Table

Mobile subscribers are growing rapidly. Portio Research projects 5.8 billion mobile subscribers worldwide by 2013.  No other media channel offers this kind of accessibility. Here at TAG we build sites for many industries!  Does your business site need a mobile makeover? Email me at jatterberry@thearlandgroup.com or follow us on Twitter @tag_mobile_web