Business Advisor Network Blog

Imagine yourself at a cocktail party….People are standing around in groups of 6 or 8, as they tend to do at these types of functions, when a stranger joins the circle. Everyone introduces themselves and makes polite chit-chat, and then someone asks the inevitable question: “And what do you do for a living, James?”

Without missing a beat, James replies “I arrange guaranteed income streams for people in uncertain times”.

There is a momentary pause – and then several people, trying to talk over the top of each other, ask “That sounds interesting. And how do you do that?”

Now here’s the interesting thing. If James had answered the initial question by saying “I’m an insurance agent”, it’s likely that everyone would have said “Oh really?” … and then they would have changed the subject.

But by talking about what he DID instead of what he WAS, he grabbed the attention of his audience.

The point is this: when we’re introducing ourselves, most people tend to make the mistake of telling the listener what they ARE, instead of what they DO. But a job title alone will rarely do a good job of getting the undivided attention of an audience. And a job title alone could easily trigger negative perceptions and memories.

So what about you? What do YOU really DO?

Are you a financial adviser … or do you help people get massively higher returns on their investments?

Are you a dentist … or do you give people great smiles?

Are you a management consultant … or do you make businesses more profitable?

Try talking about what you DO, instead of what you ARE, and you’ll find that people are suddenly keen to hear what you’ve got to say.

Three men are hiking through the woods and they come to a raging river. The water is so deep and so fast that it seems impossible to cross.

The first man offers a prayer, “Please, Lord, give me the strength to cross this river”. the Lord decides that this is a reasonable request, a cloud settles over the man and when it lifts he is taller with legs like tree trunks and massive arms.  he struggles across the river and after 4 hours he makes it across.

The second man offers a prayer, “Please, Lord, give me the strength and the ability to cross this river“.  The Lord decides that this is a reasonable request, a cloud settles over the man and when it lifts he has massive arms and there is a rowboat next to him.  he struggles across the river and after 3 hours he makes it across.

The thrid man offers a prayer, “Please, Lord, give me the strength, the ability and the wisdom to cross this river.  The Lord decides this is a reasonable request, a cloud settles around the man and when it lifts he has been changed into a woman.

She looks at a map, walks 100 yards downstream and crosses the bridge.

Moral: there is often a better way – just look for it.

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Vision Clearance Executive – otherwise known as a window cleaner – has been voted the most stupid job title of all time.

It won a massive 28 percent of the vote, making it a clear winner in the poll to find the most laughable job title.  It came ahead of Education Centre Nourishment Production Assistant (dinner lady) and Waste Removal Engineer (rubbish man). Fourth in the poll, carried out by video recruitment website www.jobs2view.com, was Domestic Engineer or Housewife to most people – followed by Knowlegde Navigator or Teacher.

The survey of 4,000 adults also revealed that a quarter of people have actually had one of these bizarre job titles.  Respondents were asked to give the most daft job description they had ever come across while job-hunting and then to rate which they thought was the most stupid from an edited list.

4% had been called Stock Replenishment Adviser instead of the more recognisable ‘shelf stacker’ and another 2% have been known as Dispatch Services Facilitator – better known as a postman.  One in 20 even admitted to knowing someone who has such a silly job title but don’t actually know what they do!

More worryingly, 2% have applied for a job with such a stupid job title only to find it to be completely different to what they thought is was.  6% of those have ended up accepting the job – despite it being something completely different to what they first thought.  Only 19% think the job titles make the role seem more important.

Author – Press Release

How to book a meeting with a business advisor, mentor or coach?
Find out about Government Grants for Queensland business?
Would you like to become an Accredited Advisor?
Need information on how to prepare a business plan?
Do you want a step by step guide to growing your business?
Become a sponsor or partner of BAN and connect with small business decision makers?
I wish to make a donation to help small business.