I'm a sucker for a good quote. And when Steve Levy blogged last week about military recruiters (http://www.erexchange.com) he got me to thinking about some of the terrific quotes from my favorite military heroes. In particular, George S. Patton:
"If everybody is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking."
I know Levy would like that one because it just might find a modern-day application within the realm of recruiting. You might as well say, "If I'm always doing exactly the same thing as everybody else (recruiting-wise), then somebody isn't thinking!" And if somebody isn't thinking, I sure hope it isn't me!
"Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash."
Hmmm...we might just have a "general" theme going here (no pun intended). A calculated risk is going to be the very thing that keeps you from thinking and doing the same things that everybody else is thinking and doing. As Levy would say, "Run, now, to your open window. Stick your head out as far as you can and yell, "I'm going to take a calculated risk today and do something that looks and sounds weird! I'm not being rash ~ I'm just doing my best to create a pocket of greatness within my world of recruiting!’”
"Be willing to make decisions. That's the most important quality in a good leader. Don't fall victim to what I call the 'ready-aim-aim-aim-aim syndrome.' You must be willing to fire."
Great recruiting initiatives will never get off the ground if they only stay in our minds.
We rub internet shoulders every day with some smart cookies. I could start down the list and spit out all those from ERE, Recruiting.com, CareerXroads, et al. However, listen closely my cast of recruiting super-heroes; the main thing these folks have in common is this: they are not afraid to pull the trigger.
Some of the best recruiting minds on the planet (yes, I'm talkin' to you) have yet to breathe life in to the ideas that they've been kickin' around upstairs. Today is the day to start.
Be willing to make a decision - build a plan - create your initiative...then pull the trigger.
"Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men."
Here's my translation:
The recruiting wars may be fought with the best weapons (tools/resources) that $$ can buy. But they are won by those dogged recruiters who are just crazy enough to run to the open window and yell:
"I'm going to take a calculated risk today and do something that looks and sounds weird! I'm not being rash ~ I'm just doing my best to create a pocket of greatness within my world of recruiting!'"
"I am a soldier, I fight where I am told, and I win where I fight."
Here's where we corporate recruiters could take a lesson from our third-party peers who seem to live a more Patton-esque lifestyle.
Can't we be just a bit more determined? Persistent? Precise? Can't we begin executing with an edge of excellence that will speak volumes to our customers about our willingness to fight where we are told, and win where we fight?!
Our customers need to hear and see and feel the passion we have for recruiting.
They need to know that nothing else matters to us but their success. That is our mission today – and we have to do it to the very best of our ability.
Is that enough? Hey, a good soldier must only do his best. In the words of our famous General:
"If everybody is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking."
I know Levy would like that one because it just might find a modern-day application within the realm of recruiting. You might as well say, "If I'm always doing exactly the same thing as everybody else (recruiting-wise), then somebody isn't thinking!" And if somebody isn't thinking, I sure hope it isn't me!
"Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash."
Hmmm...we might just have a "general" theme going here (no pun intended). A calculated risk is going to be the very thing that keeps you from thinking and doing the same things that everybody else is thinking and doing. As Levy would say, "Run, now, to your open window. Stick your head out as far as you can and yell, "I'm going to take a calculated risk today and do something that looks and sounds weird! I'm not being rash ~ I'm just doing my best to create a pocket of greatness within my world of recruiting!’”
"Be willing to make decisions. That's the most important quality in a good leader. Don't fall victim to what I call the 'ready-aim-aim-aim-aim syndrome.' You must be willing to fire."
Great recruiting initiatives will never get off the ground if they only stay in our minds.
We rub internet shoulders every day with some smart cookies. I could start down the list and spit out all those from ERE, Recruiting.com, CareerXroads, et al. However, listen closely my cast of recruiting super-heroes; the main thing these folks have in common is this: they are not afraid to pull the trigger.
Some of the best recruiting minds on the planet (yes, I'm talkin' to you) have yet to breathe life in to the ideas that they've been kickin' around upstairs. Today is the day to start.
Be willing to make a decision - build a plan - create your initiative...then pull the trigger.
"Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men."
Here's my translation:
The recruiting wars may be fought with the best weapons (tools/resources) that $$ can buy. But they are won by those dogged recruiters who are just crazy enough to run to the open window and yell:
"I'm going to take a calculated risk today and do something that looks and sounds weird! I'm not being rash ~ I'm just doing my best to create a pocket of greatness within my world of recruiting!'"
"I am a soldier, I fight where I am told, and I win where I fight."
Here's where we corporate recruiters could take a lesson from our third-party peers who seem to live a more Patton-esque lifestyle.
Can't we be just a bit more determined? Persistent? Precise? Can't we begin executing with an edge of excellence that will speak volumes to our customers about our willingness to fight where we are told, and win where we fight?!
Our customers need to hear and see and feel the passion we have for recruiting.
They need to know that nothing else matters to us but their success. That is our mission today – and we have to do it to the very best of our ability.
Is that enough? Hey, a good soldier must only do his best. In the words of our famous General:
"If a man does his best, what else is there?"
P.S.
I have to add a footnote and say that I am humbled by the greatness found within the realm of recruiting by those I call my peers at Samsung Telecommunications America (John Brown - Cal Henline - Christina Dickman - Sherrie Howe). Here's to you, team. Your dogged determination and passion for exceeding our customer's goals and taking risks astounds me every day.
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