Illustra Consulting http://www.illustraconsulting.com Advancing Leaders In Record Time Sat, 25 Feb 2012 18:21:05 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 predictablepromotionhttp://feedburner.google.com Promote Your Promoter: Get what you want by giving what others want http://www.illustraconsulting.com/promote-your-promoter-get-what-you-want-by-giving-what-others-want/ http://www.illustraconsulting.com/promote-your-promoter-get-what-you-want-by-giving-what-others-want/#comments Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:00:51 +0000 Sarah Hathorn http://www.illustraconsulting.com/?p=3357 Get what you want by giving what others want When you meet with a boss to solicit performance feedback, always inquire how you can help them achieve their own goals. This is essentially the same strategy that HR experts recommend when doing a job interview – not focusing on yourself but keeping the conversation about the needs of the person you hope will hire you.

To do this well, you have to be an expert listener. You may hear emotions, for instance, like fear, insecurity, or frustration. Maybe your boss is afraid of missing a deadline or promotion or is insecure about the organizational structure after a merger. She may be frustrated by her inability to lead your team, or by her own lack of executive presence. Figure out ways to help her get stronger in those areas. Perhaps you can compensate for her lack of skills because you have those skills to share, or you can recommend an executive coach to mentor her to the next level. Oftentimes you can volunteer to shoulder greater responsibility in order to free-up an overworked boss, which enables them to be more productive and ensures that that as they rise up the ladder so will you.

Try to psych-out the reasons why that difficult boss, for example, behaves the way he does. What problem is he hoping to avoid by being a control freak, or what inadequacy makes him so ill-equipped to clearly communicate to the team he attempts to lead? Learning to read between the lines – and to interpret non-verbal signals and body talk – is the key to mastering this valuable career acceleration skill. Once you sort out the hidden triggers behind that difficult boss you can begin to focus on his unspoken need for help.

As the old-school sales trainer Zig Ziglar used to say as one of his trademark slogans, “You can have everything you want if you help enough people get what they want.”


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Sarah Hathorn is a leadership development mentor, executive presence coach, image and branding consultant, public speaker & author. She is the founding CEO of her own successful company, Illustra Consulting, and the creator of the proprietary Predictable Promotion System™.
Blog, Ezine & Website: www.illustraconsulting.com
Copyright © 2012, Sarah Hathorn, AICI CIP, CPBS






]]> http://www.illustraconsulting.com/promote-your-promoter-get-what-you-want-by-giving-what-others-want/feed/ 0 Tired of Treading Water? Jump-start your Career this Year http://www.illustraconsulting.com/tired-of-treading-water-jump-start-your-career-this-year/ http://www.illustraconsulting.com/tired-of-treading-water-jump-start-your-career-this-year/#comments Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:00:57 +0000 Sarah Hathorn http://www.illustraconsulting.com/?p=3351 Tired of Treading Water It's only February and the year is still new. This is the time to make up your mind to reinvent yourself and realign your reality with your dreams. Throw off the old stagnant, running-in-place treadmill patterns in favor of fresh, lively, exciting career success. Celebrate your true full potential. Get to where you want to be in 2012 without any dull delays or aggravating detours.

The problem is, of course, that after doing an attitude adjustment and making some passionate resolutions, we realize that when we hit the ground running the ground often hits back – and that pavement is hard. You have to have perseverance and maintain mental strength each and every month.

That’s why highly successful people and great competitors who “have heart” also have vigilant, demanding coaches to keep them in the zone. Sure, we all need to muster individual strength and a sustained belief in ourselves. But the ones who actually make it to the top are those who don’t go it alone. That is especially true for leaders who are expected to provide guidance and inspiration to their employees through uphill battles. You cannot do that without having a great coach in your corner. In times like these you need someone who believes in you more than you believe in yourself.

Fortunately, as the Zen saying goes, “When the student is ready, the teacher appears.” Am I the right person to fulfill that role and ensure that you have what you need to make this your most successful career year? I don’t know, and neither do you. But I do know that it is worth it for both of us to talk, let me hear your challenges, and find out. We have nothing to lose and the potential for gain could be the difference that makes this the year for your pivotal promotion. Feel free to contact me (Link) to set up a call. I’d love to get to know you better and find out what kind of symbiosis we can generate.


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Sarah Hathorn is a leadership development mentor, executive presence coach, image and branding consultant, public speaker & author. She is the founding CEO of her own successful company, Illustra Consulting, and the creator of the proprietary Predictable Promotion System™.
Blog, Ezine & Website: www.illustraconsulting.com
Copyright © 2012, Sarah Hathorn, AICI CIP, CPBS






]]> http://www.illustraconsulting.com/tired-of-treading-water-jump-start-your-career-this-year/feed/ 0 Be a Dream Team Talent Scout http://www.illustraconsulting.com/be-a-dream-team-talent-scout/ http://www.illustraconsulting.com/be-a-dream-team-talent-scout/#comments Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:00:59 +0000 Sarah Hathorn http://www.illustraconsulting.com/?p=3346 Be a Dream Team Talent Scout Owners of professional sports franchises invest tens of millions of dollars to draft the top players, and their talent scouts start following athletes as early as junior high school. They have to invest with a forward outlook, and that means they have to constantly be on lookout for talent no matter when it appears or where they find it. If you want to build your own corporate dream team you also have to become a fulltime talent scout. Keep your radar on all the time, because you never know where you might discover your next big value-adding player or diamond-in-the-rough potential asset.

I heard of one business owner, for example, who found a new sales manager not at a college or convention but at a Lexus dealership. He was so impressed with the way this guy presented himself that after buying a sedan he asked him to head the corporate sales team. The person installing your cable TV may have a smart roommate who is looking for a position as an on-site computer technician. The bartender at the hotel could be a brilliant marketing and advertising copywriter who is just working part time to pay the mortgage while between jobs. Scan the horizon. Think outside the box. Try to see what people are passionate about and engage them in a way that brings their special ability to the surface and into focus.

Take me, for instance. I went to college, earned a degree in accounting, and landed a job at Macy’s. But soon I transitioned into the role of store manager because they realized that with my accounting background I would be good at managing a department store budget during tough economic times. But before too long someone noticed I had a knack for training new hires. So within a year or two they moved me into a senior level executive position where I could concentrate on developing talent for the whole organization. Some people who had known me before were surprised to find out that the new addition to the boardroom team was the one they used to know – the quiet, introverted Sarah who loved to crunch numbers and fill in ledger sheets. It just goes to show that you never know where you might find the right person to take your team – and your business – to the next level.

Building your dream team is about having the right attitude and vision to search out ideal people who can make dynamic contributions by rounding out your team with a unique and special skill set. Know what you need, and then look for it everywhere, during all your interactions. If you don’t have your eyes open you might miss a golden opportunity. But with a vigilant mindset and your antennae up, just when you least expect it a key player will suddenly appear.


Tell me what you think! Please post your valued and valuable comments below.


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You may, as long as you include this complete bio with it:
Sarah Hathorn is a leadership development mentor, executive presence coach, image and branding consultant, public speaker & author. She is the founding CEO of her own successful company, Illustra Consulting, and the creator of the proprietary Predictable Promotion System™.
Blog, Ezine & Website: www.illustraconsulting.com
Copyright © 2012, Sarah Hathorn, AICI CIP, CPBS






]]> http://www.illustraconsulting.com/be-a-dream-team-talent-scout/feed/ 0 Brand Marketing Breakthroughs to Attract More Clients http://www.illustraconsulting.com/brand-marketing-breakthroughs-to-attract-more-clients/ http://www.illustraconsulting.com/brand-marketing-breakthroughs-to-attract-more-clients/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:00:55 +0000 Sarah Hathorn http://www.illustraconsulting.com/?p=3297 Brand Marketing Breakthroughs How do you play your biggest game on the way to becoming an iconic rock star of your industry? You must leverage your business brand and implement innovative marketing tools to flourish where others fail!

Sarah Hathorn, AICI CIP, CPBS, will share how you can create your own one-of-a-kind signature system, leverage value-based fees for greater profits, and design unique business models that offer a more diversified menu of products/services to make your business more scalable, sustainable, and competitive. Overcome those self-erected roadblocks that are sabotaging your success to earn a higher income and attain greater professional and personal fulfillment.

For more information and to register now - click here

You only have until Friday, February, 10, 2012 to get the special Early Bird Rate!


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]]> http://www.illustraconsulting.com/brand-marketing-breakthroughs-to-attract-more-clients/feed/ 0 Predictable Promotion Lessons from Super Bowl XLVI http://www.illustraconsulting.com/predictable-promotion-lessons-from-super-bowl-xlvi/ http://www.illustraconsulting.com/predictable-promotion-lessons-from-super-bowl-xlvi/#comments Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:00:12 +0000 Sarah Hathorn http://www.illustraconsulting.com/?p=3311 No matter who you pulled for this season, you have to agree that the Super Bowl winning Giants reminded us that we have the ability to control our own destinies. With the right attitude, a little luck, and powerful perseverance propelled by great leadership anyone can be a champion. They scratched and clawed their way through the playoffs – managing a win against the Packers, who were having one of the greatest seasons in the history of football. Finally they outscored the Patriots in a tug-of-war world championship. But as odd it may seem, when compared to previous Super Bowl winners this year’s Giants entered the game with the worst win-loss record of all.

My take-away from this unexpected turn of events is that it just confirms what I have been telling my clients for the past four years. Just because the economy is troubled, businesses are downsizing like crazy, jobs are as scarce as hen’s teeth, and the competition is brutal that does not mean that you cannot succeed. But you have to commit to play your biggest game and keep your head in the zone with a winning attitude.

Early in my own career I was told that I was not cut out for the job I dreamed of landing. I ignored the naysayers, trained harder, put in longer hours, got coached, and learned how to assemble high performance teams. Soon I had attained a senior level position – having surprisingly turned what appeared to be a losing situation into personal and professional victory.

But it wasn’t a miracle or magic. Instead it was a predictable outcome based on sound principles of career acceleration success. You can apply those, too, and I’ll teach you exactly how. If you don’t believe it can happen, go back and watch the Giants. Several weeks ago they had everyone believing that they were destined to be forgettable and irrelevant. But they ran away with the grand prize and are firmly established as legendary CEOs of their own career destiny.


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Sarah Hathorn is a leadership development mentor, executive presence coach, image and branding consultant, public speaker & author. She is the founding CEO of her own successful company, Illustra Consulting, and the creator of the proprietary Predictable Promotion System™.
Blog, Ezine & Website: www.illustraconsulting.com
Copyright © 2012, Sarah Hathorn, AICI CIP, CPBS






]]> http://www.illustraconsulting.com/predictable-promotion-lessons-from-super-bowl-xlvi/feed/ 0 Target Your Team with Words That Work http://www.illustraconsulting.com/target-your-team-with-words-that-work/ http://www.illustraconsulting.com/target-your-team-with-words-that-work/#comments Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:59:07 +0000 Sarah Hathorn http://www.illustraconsulting.com/?p=3361 Target Your Team with Words That Work

I recently had a conversation with a construction engineer about how knowledge of physics enables people to move massive, heavy objects while exerting very little effort. By using centrifugal force, gravity, and the science of simple fulcrums and natural leverage, for example, two people can move a block of granite that weighs hundreds of pounds. In fact you may have used these same techniques if you have ever tried to move a large appliance, a big box, or a piece of furniture by tilting it up on one corner, turning it 180 degrees, and then tipping it onto another leg or corner to “walk it” across the room.

But it is also possible to get the same kind of powerful results by utilizing special business communication fulcrums for leadership leverage. The words you choose are powerful tools for motivating your teams – and by following the tips listed below you can leverage effective communication skills to move mountains.

  • Avoid accidentally condescending words, because those can create resistance and distance just when you want teamwork and cooperation. Instead of referring to an employee as someone who “works for you” (an expression that emphasizes that you are served as their boss) use a phrase like “works with me” or “collaborates with me.” That small distinction can make an employee or direct report feel better about the working relationship, while it also subtly communicates that you value their contributions and don’t feel yourself to be superior to them.

  • Know what motivates each of your team members, not in general but on a very personal, individual basis. Some of us are motivated by recognition and status, for example, while others are primarily inspired by money and power. Knowing what makes a person tick enables you to reward them in the way that inspires their best work – and it informs you in a way that will help you avoid attempts to motivate them with methods that flop and fail.

  • Talk to people. Get to know their passions, their hobbies, and details about what is meaningful to them on the job as well as in their personal lives. Then you’ll be equipped to ask, for example, how their daughter is doing on the science project, how their son’s basketball team is faring this season, or if their parent who was sick is feeling better.

  • Above all, routinely ask – with all sincerity – for specific feedback regarding what you can do as their leader to help them be more productive. Top leaders get some of their best ideas and innovations from their teams, because they are open to candid input and leadership suggestions.





As a pioneering and visionary innovator, Sarah is a certified professional image consultant and brand strategist, speaker, trainer and author. Her company, Illustra Consulting, provides leading-edge image and brand management strategies for top leaders and high achievers who wish to take their career to the next level. She also delivers innovative and inspiring corporate workshops to assist large organizations in strengthening their corporate brand.

Illustra Consulting
Copyright © 2012, Sarah Hathorn, AICI CIP, CPBS
1-800-267-3245, info@illustraconsulting.com
This article may be reproduced only in it’s entirety, including the above bio.



]]> http://www.illustraconsulting.com/target-your-team-with-words-that-work/feed/ 0 3 Ways to Align the Universe Behind Your Career Success http://www.illustraconsulting.com/3-ways-to-align-the-universe-behind-your-career-success/ http://www.illustraconsulting.com/3-ways-to-align-the-universe-behind-your-career-success/#comments Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:00:54 +0000 Sarah Hathorn http://www.illustraconsulting.com/?p=3224 3 Ways to Align the Universe Behind Your Career Success You can call it intuition, quantum physics, faith, or just a honed and polished ability to listen to your gut as you navigate the fiercely competitive world of business. But whatever name you give it or however you prefer to explain, the fact is that sometimes there are definite signs that we are either veering off track or heading in the right direction.

The problem is that most people miss those memos from the universe. Great guidance is constantly communicated to us between the lines, but we don’t always see it. We fail to spot the subtle signs and signals. But that means that when our proverbial ship comes in we might inadvertently miss the boat. The universe may leave us a bright yellow post-it note, and if it gets buried underneath a pile of beige files we’ll never notice.

The secret to picking up on these subtleties –which are just outward manifestations and confirmations of our inner wisdom and internalized experience – is to practice reading them. We need to stay attuned to our heartfelt instincts and gut reactions during the course of our daily routines. That’s easier said than done, especially in an age of technological distractions that encourages us to superficially skim over the landscape while multitasking, versus developing a deeper vision of who we are and what we ultimately want to do with our lives.

The process has to begin with you, and here are three helpful tips:

#1 Take an annual inventory of your priorities, passions, and dreams

Update them. Write them down. Picture them in vivid color with minute details to make them come alive. Whenever you are faced with an important decision, an intersection in your life, or a career crossroads, check your response against your internal vision of what you really want.

#2 Nurture this as an internal checks and balances system

Ask yourself if it meets your moral and ethical criteria, and does it align with your personal as well as your professional idea of career success and lifelong legacy. Soon you will start to recognize when the external world resonates like a tuning fork with the internal parts of yourself that matter the most.

#3 Practice seeing the world outside in relationship to this inner vision

Maybe it will come to you during a conversation with a stranger or when you contemplate a passage from a book. You might notice that resonant feeling when you accept an assignment, meet a new client, or walk away from an opportunity that just doesn’t quite feel right. That’s the universe speaking to you.

The more you listen for this kind of confirmation or look for these signs, the quicker you will become fluent in your own intuitive messaging process. Intentionally develop this receptivity and you’ll always find the guidance you need, right when you need it, to ensure your career success and personal fulfillment.


Tell me what you think! Please post your valued and valuable comments below.


Do you want to use this blog article?
You may, as long as you include this complete bio with it:
Sarah Hathorn is a leadership development mentor, executive presence coach, image and branding consultant, public speaker & author. She is the founding CEO of her own successful company, Illustra Consulting, and the creator of the proprietary Predictable Promotion System™.
Blog, Ezine & Website: www.illustraconsulting.com
Copyright © 2012, Sarah Hathorn, AICI CIP, CPBS






]]> http://www.illustraconsulting.com/3-ways-to-align-the-universe-behind-your-career-success/feed/ 0 1-Day Intensive Testimonial: Dr. Patti Bradley http://www.illustraconsulting.com/1-day-intensive-testimonial-dr-patti-bradley/ http://www.illustraconsulting.com/1-day-intensive-testimonial-dr-patti-bradley/#comments Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:08:24 +0000 Admin http://www.illustraconsulting.com/?p=3222

]]> http://www.illustraconsulting.com/1-day-intensive-testimonial-dr-patti-bradley/feed/ 0 Outsmart Performance Appraisals: Follow a smarter playbook to play your biggest game http://www.illustraconsulting.com/outsmart-performance-appraisals-follow-a-smarter-playbook-to-play-your-biggest-game/ http://www.illustraconsulting.com/outsmart-performance-appraisals-follow-a-smarter-playbook-to-play-your-biggest-game/#comments Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:00:05 +0000 Admin http://www.illustraconsulting.com/?p=3199 Outsmart Performance Apprasials We all need performance feedback to guide our career development and ensure faster promotions. Whether you look forward to performance reviews and performance appraisals or dread the idea, they are inevitable for almost everyone. That’s why in 2012 I want you to be more proactive about taking the reins when it comes to performance evaluations.

Don’t wait for them to come to you with their own standardized checklist. Figure out what your real strength is. Then go to your boss way ahead of time and ask for specific feedback regarding that contribution. By doing so you highlight your unique value, and you also make sure that it gets noticed – even if the organization is distracted by looking at other kinds of standard attributes or results. Remember that what you measure during a performance review depends on what you examine. So focus their analysis on your strengths now so that they start tracking your success early.

Needless to say, you aren’t the only one being watched, so there may also be internal conflicts related to this kind of appraisal. If you shine brighter or score higher than your direct superior, for instance, that could potentially feel like a threat to your boss. You don’t want to be in that situation, especially if your boss is tabulating the results of your own appraisal. So be proactive. Sit down and clarify your shared goals in a collaborative way. Set up an informal performance contract between yourself and your boss, with concrete metrics and verifiable benchmarks that benefit both of you as well as your organization.

The optimum way to ask for feedback is once a month, so that each quarter – and certainly by the time your official evaluation comes around – you’ll have accumulated a visible record of goal achievement, skill development, and verifiable contributions. Instead of wondering what the performance review holds for you, you’ll already know – because you took charge of the process months before your colleagues and competitors for prized promotions even thought about their own performance reviews.


Tell me what you think! Please post your valued and valuable comments below.


Do you want to use this blog article?
You may, as long as you include this complete bio with it:
Sarah Hathorn is a leadership development mentor, executive presence coach, image and branding consultant, public speaker & author. She is the founding CEO of her own successful company, Illustra Consulting, and the creator of the proprietary Predictable Promotion System™.
Blog, Ezine & Website: www.illustraconsulting.com
Copyright © 2012, Sarah Hathorn, AICI CIP, CPBS






]]> http://www.illustraconsulting.com/outsmart-performance-appraisals-follow-a-smarter-playbook-to-play-your-biggest-game/feed/ 0 Sarah Hathorn featured in Investor’s Business Daily http://www.illustraconsulting.com/sarah-hathorn-featured-in-investors-business-daily/ http://www.illustraconsulting.com/sarah-hathorn-featured-in-investors-business-daily/#comments Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:45:05 +0000 Admin http://www.illustraconsulting.com/?p=3190

Get Out Of The Office To Meet Key Contacts


"Humans are hard-wired to distrust those who can't look them in the eye, and if you never meet someone face to face, they never have the opportunity to evaluate your trustworthiness,"

Read the entire article online



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