January 25, 2011 • Volume 2, Issue 2 • ISSN: 2154-3240

In This Issue

♦	Feature Article: Competition
♦	Ask Amanda: I know I should be out networking to keep myself plugged into my industry but by the end of the day I just want to go home and veg. Any advice?
♦	Practical Tips: Virtual Meetings

Competition

It goes without saying (and yet I’m going to) that we live in a hyper-competitive society. We’re taught that everyone should always strive to be the best, to win at all costs regardless of the activity. This type of thinking leads to a very narrow definition of success. It can be exhausting and it teaches us to regard everyone as a potential competitor. Ironically, it also cuts us off from a very important competitive strategy: cooperation.

Sometimes it makes more sense to cooperate with your perceived competition because it allows you both to win more efficiently. At minimum, reaching out to your competition in order to build a connection can help you learn more about what it takes to succeed. You obviously share values, given that you’re both striving for the same goals.
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	Baby steps lead to great strides.

Practical Tips: Virtual Meetings

Virtual meetings have many benefits and can also present some unique challenges. To use them to your advantage, consider the following:

Presentation
If you’re using a webcam, consider the positioning of the camera and what exactly others will see behind you when viewing. Be especially careful if you have items that may be funny to you but could be considered offensive by others. Also, make sure the camera angle is flattering—and that anything confidential is out of sight.
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I know I should be out networking to keep myself plugged into my industry but by the end of the day I just want to go home and veg. Any advice? L.S. Chapel Hill, NC

Most of us work within very lean structures, which results in more work than any of us can reasonably complete within a “normal” day. Responsible employees tend to prioritize the work in front of them and rationalize that doing so will ensure job security. The question is whether it truly is the “right” thing to do—for both yourself and your employer.
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Recommended Resources

Making a Living at What You Love™ starts tomorrow, January 26th. As our gift to you, ezine subscribers qualify for a 20% discount. To take advantage of this discount, register using the same email address you use for this ezine and enter the discount code EZINE20DEC10.

If you, or someone you love, is feeling trapped in your job check out our Taking Control of Your Career™ Bootcamp. Spring Session begins February 10th.

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About Us: Our Corporate Life LLC (OCL) is a company that offers a new system for reducing unnecessary workplace suffering caused by the organizational, interpersonal, and ethical issues of our time. It is founded on the belief that adhering to core human values and achieving business success are always compatible. Working with both companies and individuals, OCL helps create solutions that enable corporate employees at every level to optimize profits while enabling them to thrive in the corporate environment. OCL was founded by Amanda Mitchell to help meet the needs of people working in corporate America during this transformative moment in our nation’s history. The OCL system reflects her experience and insight gained from a 20-year corporate career working with Fortune 500 companies, and as an executive coach to senior-level corporate executives.