The Dance Between the Offeror and Offeree

During my undergraduate studies, I interviewed for an administrative assistant position, and one of my favorite courses was Business Law. My professor was impressed with how I briefed my cases and encouraged me to attend Law School. After the interview, I was excited to receive a verbal offer for the administrative assistant position, which I accepted with a follow-up acknowledgment letter; however, my excitement diminished when I received a confirmation letter with a starting salary less than the original offer I had agreed to.

My Business Law course was intricate in helping me understand the roles of an Offeror and an Offeree. Recognizing and understanding these roles is not just a matter of legal semantics; it's the foundation of strong, enforceable, and mutually beneficial agreements. When an Offeror submits an offer to an Offeree (e.g., services, products, or a partnership) verbally or contractually, the Offeree can accept, reject, or modify the conditions of the contract. Since I verbally accepted the position according to the original proposition with a written follow-up letter, the Offeror (i.e., the company) could not rescind their original offer.

They rescinded my original salary offer because the vice president of the public affairs department did not want me to make the same salary as his executive assistant, and they declared my original offer a mistake after noticing that my maiden name did not coincide with my race or complexion. I refuted this mistake via a letter stating, When an Offeror makes an offer to an Offeree and the Offeree accepts, that exchange becomes a legally binding contract. Their legal department agreed with me and instructed their Human Resource Department to hire me according to the original offer because I would prevail if I chose to take this matter to court.

As we navigate the intricacies of business relationships, let's embrace our roles with insight, integrity, and a commitment to mutual success. Whether we're extending an offer or contemplating one, remember: the strength of any agreement succeeds in the shared vision and collaboration between the Offeror and Offeree. #BusinessLaw #Negotiation #ProfessionalGrowth #LegalInsights #OfferorOfferee

Don't Live Within Your Means

Living within your means is well-intended advice to prevent people from acquiring debt. But could this advice prevent individuals from believing and achieving a bigger and better life?

Mean among many definitions is average. Living outside your means spiritually, emotionally, and socially can lead to an extraordinary life. Here’s how:

• Write your big dreams and read them daily
• Create a vision board with images that coincide with your dreams
• Review, envision, and mediate daily of you achieving your dreams
• Surround yourself with people who have what you desire
• Strive for purpose and not security
• Live by faith and not fear

Don't Shoot The Messenger

Doctors write medical prescriptions to help patients heal. Training providers design or deliver training modules to meet the learning needs of their trainees. Patients must take their prescribed medicine according to their doctor's instructions. If they don't, the healing process may not reach its full potential. Trainees that participate in training and place their training material on a shelf will abort their potential to apply what they've learned in their training session.

Doctors and training providers are not perfect, but they are skilled in their craft. If patients and trainees do not use or apply the information given to them to heal or perform better at work or in business, the outcome does not rest in the hands of the physician or trainer. It solely rests in the hands of the patients and trainees.

Management Essentials

When you’re a manager, there are some basic, essential skills everyone should have. Whether it’s setting clear work priorities, building great teamwork, listening well to others, or performing a performance review. Each of the skills impact how effective you’ll be as a manager. The Management Essentials e-course will help you build these skills and others. By giving you on the job development exercises to evaluate performance, set clear expectations, and create the right level of challenging work, you’ll build the skills required to be a great and motivating manager for each of your employees. This bite-sized course includes:

• Giving Clear Work Priorities
• What Employees Need
• Reinforce Great Teamwork
• Valuing Employees
• Listening to Others’ Ideas and Opinions
• Problem Solving Expectations
• The Right Workload for Employees
• The Great Things Employees Do
• An Ethics and Integrity Discussion
• Perform a Performance Review
• Creating Challenging Work
• Receive Feedback From Your
• Creating a Great Work Situation
• Evaluating Performance in the Right Way
• Perform a Departure Review

After successful completion of this course, you will acquire skills to build basic management practices to coach employees, deliver valuable feedback, and recognize the achievements of others. Click here to learn more or to get started.

Stop Thinking Like an Employee

Stop Thinking Like an Employee is a workshop The SOFEI Group provides to individuals seeking to become an entrepreneur. Since we started facilitating this workshop, we have learned there isn't a vast distinction between an employee and entrepreneur; except for their attitudes and their approach towards work. For example, if you're an employee whose work is based on the instruction of your employer, you're what Seth Godin states in his book, The Linchpin - a "cog in a machine."

A “cog in a machine” is a compliant person who shows on time to work, do what they’re told, but get paid less than what they're worth. The gap between their worth and pay creates a profit for the business owner. The Linchpin is a non-conformist to the cog system. They're a career activist! They know how to take control of their career and have a clear understanding of the value they bring to a work environment or project. And, here are a few suggestions to help you perform and think like a business owner:

• Trade your gifts, time, and talents for money
• Your boss, coworkers, and vendors are your customers
• Do more than what’s expected, and make things happen
• Be a problem-solver
• Use diplomacy to get along with people who don’t look, think, or act like you
• Work to make a difference
• Operate with integrity and flexibility
• Build or engage in a network
• Be a Power Broker to help others achieve their goals
• Stay focused on your goals; not your feelings
• Be accountable, and
• Build your brand from your work ethics.

Employees ask, "What do you want me to do?" Entrepreneurs ask, "What can I do for you?"

You Can Have a Great Career

Do you have a great career? How do you measure your greatness? Is it measured by what you acquire or what you contribute? A great career is more than working in a profession to collect a paycheck. It’s about using your unique skills, gifts, and talents to serve (i.e., add value). And, a great career is achievable to anyone who wants one. Here are three ways to get started:

1. Take Inventory of Your Strengths - What are your current strengths and how have you added value to your clients through your place of employment or business? If you can't answer these questions with clarity or certainty, a career assessment can help you develop a framework to discover your true passion, personal, or vocational traits.
2. Develop a Contribution Plan - Once you’ve discovered your passion and strengths, create a plan to determine the contribution(s) and impact your passion and strength will make in the lives of others.
3. Invest in Your Strengths – When you invest in yourself, your strengths will come into fruition and grow stronger as you elevate others. You can read books, periodicals, take an online course, enroll in a non-credit course, or join a networking group. Just don't tell yourself you don't have time or money to invest in your greatness.

Feelings vs. Facts

Feelings can be a challenge to prove in the workplace. They’re challenging because some feelings aren’t based on current realities, but on experiences that can cloud the truth.

If you’ve experienced an offence at work, think before you respond or react. And if you want an apology or resolve from the offender, here are a few things to consider:

• Was the offence intentional? If so, can you prove it?
• What was your emotional state when the offence occurred?
• Are you viewing the current offence through the lens of your past?
• What impact does the offence have on you and the company as a whole if it’s not addressed and resolved?

Telling someone how we feel in the workplace may be impossible to validate without tangible proof. One sure way to get heard is to measure offensive behaviors against the company’s mission and core values which should be outlined in the company’s employee handbook. Also, make sure you have the ability to show your value to the company as a problem-solver, not a complainer or whiner. You can do so when you speak more about what your company does and less about how you feel.

Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID)

In 1980, Mary Catherine Swanson (an English teacher) created AVID - a program designed to help underrepresented students succeed in high school and college. The program's philosophy is: "Hold students accountable to the highest standards, provide academic and social support, and they will rise to the challenge."

A group of AVID middle school students completed their assignments fifteen minutes early and wanted to watch YouTube videos which were unrelated to AVID. When asked to turn off their videos, a student responded with: "My mom watches YouTube videos all the time at work, so why can't we watch them at school?"

What legacy are we leaving our children in reference to work, finances, or service? Students need role models to coincide with their lessons to advance academically, socially, or economically. And their parents should be their first point of reference.

The industrialized workforce is depleting and individuals that choose to watch YouTube videos instead of seeking opportunities to serve will be challenged to advance via individual determination.

Things or Experience?

A survey from Eventbrite found that 78% of Generation Y respondents would rather spend money on an experience than a thing, and 77% say their best memories come from experiences.

In addition, 72% of millennials shared they would like to increase their spending on experiences, and 69% say that their experiences make them feel more connected to their communities, other people, and the world.

In 1998, B. Joseph Pine II and James H. Gilmore published an article - The Experience Economy. In this article, they state businesses must orchestrate memorable events for their customers, and that memory (i.e., experience) itself becomes the product. Savvy businesses use this model and charge for the value of their "experience" product because they know if they create experiences that are exciting and transcendent, they can build a community of fans that will rave about their 'experience.'

Jesus Christ created a community of raving fans because He always gave people what they needed - a spiritual transformation. Example, a Samaritan woman went to Sychar to draw water from a well where Jesus was sitting. Her encounter with Jesus transformed her life when He told her about herself and offered her a drink of 'living' water that would quench her spiritual thirst forever.

After her encounter and transformation, she returned to her town and told everybody about her 'experience' with Jesus. As a matter of fact, she left her pail of water at the well.

Matthew 6:19-21, states, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Experience is what transforms, things pile up. What are you willing to invest in that will lead to your stronger 'inner' being?

Skeptics of The Poor

Two homeless women contacted The SOFEI Group for housing assistance after eviction from an area shelter. Housing homeless women and their families is not part of our mission; however, we sought assistance (temporary housing, food, and pampers) from area organizations, churches, and people on their behalf. Following are responses to our request:

• Why were they evicted?
• Are they tithing members of a church?
• They must be irresponsible women to be evicted from a shelter.
• Why can't they move to another shelter?
• I don't believe in giving my money to people that don't want to help themselves.
• Why can't they go and stay with relatives?

All responses were valid and The SOFEI Group decided to provide temporary housing and food for these women because they were wandering the street with their children in tote. And, it was discovered their eviction wasn't a result of their carelessness, but their refusal to attend substance abuse (alcohol or drugs) counseling sessions mandated by the shelter.

Some shelters receive different types of funding - funding for emergency or transitional housing. And, when shelters are strapped for cash, it's unfortunate that some women are subjected to unnecessary or unrelated services.

We're all responsible to be good stewards of our resources, and we clearly understand the skepticism associated with giving money to people you don't know. However, here's a food for thought, every time we spend our money, we're possibly supporting an organization or a cause we do not believe in. You know why? Because we don't ask questions about how our money is being used after a purchase is complete. As long as our immediate wants or needs are met, we seldom question the destination of our hard-earned money once it leaves our hands.

So, why the skepticism when money is needed to help the poor?

Hate your job, what are you doing about it?

If you’re not happy with your job, whose fault is it? Is it your manager’s, co-worker, the economy, your bills, or you? What impact does your hatred have on the people you serve through your job? To show up every day to a job you hate doesn’t benefit anyone but your creditors. Hatred is difficult to hide. It will resonate through your attitude and your work.

Staying at a job you hate may seem logical with the high percentage of unemployed and underemployed people. But if you choose to stay, why hate it? Why waste your time and your employer's? It’s challenging to have a servant attitude through hatred. If you’re not willing to serve, you’re not willing to work at your best capacity.

Work isn’t solely about us! It’s about service. If we’re filled with hatred about our work, does it mean we’re too full of ourselves? Sure, people can be difficult and challenging, but their actions should not contribute to our hatred. Every day we show up for work, we should know our purpose and the contribution we will make on our employer's bottom line and their clients.

Don’t allow finances and fear hold you hostage to a job you hate. You have the power to transform your job into a career you enjoy and love. If you're ready, you can start here.

Self-Servants Not Wanted

A prospective partner contacted The SOFEI Group to offer their services to build their brand. This person was turned down because their main purpose to join wasn’t about helping us achieve our mission – it was self-serving.

If your ultimate reason to secure employment or start a business is to make money, you’re off to a bumpy start. Many MLM (Multi-level Marketing) business owners plummet because they see an opportunity to make money, instead of an opportunity to improve the lives of others with their product or service. And, many businesses are not experiencing exponential growth because it’s replete with self-serving people who choose not to use their skills, experience, or education to serve.

In this knowledge-based workforce, employers and business owners want to connect with believers, leaders, or servants. People who believe in the organization’s mission, goals, and objectives; leaders who can influence people to achieve greatness, and people who do not mind serving their internal and external clients.

Anyone willing to believe, lead, and serve can strengthen their opportunity to achieve long-term success. But, if your willingness to work is to reap and not sow, you may be characterized as a self-server. Have you ever seen a want ad or business opportunity for self-servants?

Take the Secret out of Doing Business

Attend this seminar to receive business secrets to grow your business. Really? Let’s face it; there are no secrets to doing business, just strategies. Instead of spending money and time attending seminars or workshops to find secrets, take a deep breath and revisit your purpose for going into business. Here are a few questions to think about when developing your business strategy:

• Who are your clients and how do they find you?
• What’s your strategy to deliver your product and/or service to prospective clients to meet their needs, solve their problems, or enhance their lives?
• Who are your ideal business clients?
• How well do you know your prospective and current clients?
• What’s your strategy to keep your clients happy and transform them to raving fans?
• What resources will you need to support your strategy?
• What’s your strategy to handle disgruntled clients and build their trust?
• What’s your strategy to continue moving your business forward when funds are low?
• What method(s) will you use to stay connected to your clients for repeat business or referrals?
• How will you demonstrate your appreciation for your client’s business?
• What strategies or tools will you use to measure your client's satisfaction?

Many business secret gurus or experts are simply sharing strategies that were applicable to their personality, business, and clients. Don’t get lured into their strategy because you don’t know the resources (e.g., money, people, or equipment) they had access to when they started. And, their strategy may not be suitable for your business mission, vision, or clients.

Stop seeking secrets; just create and build your strategies. You’ll be amazed of the results you will reap and you will not need to keep this a secret.

Training is a waste of time and money

Another federal government agency was snubbed last week for allegedly wasting tax payer’s dollars (50 million) for training conferences over a three-year period. Training is a waste of time and money when its goals and objectives aren’t clearly defined and connected to an organization’s mission, and the actual value training will add when completed.

Government waste didn’t start in this Administration; it has been a normal way of business to avoid a decrease in appropriation dollars for each fiscal year. When an agency learns that it has an excess in appropriation dollars towards the end of their fiscal year, many government employees reap the benefits of training, conferences, and/or new equipment.

Training should never be used as a last resort to save appropriation dollars that will result in waste. This strategy decreases the value of education and training. If a government agency can operate on less money than originally appropriated, this money should be returned to Congress to bring down the deficit.

Who's Tooting Your Horn?

Horn Tooting is the normalcy in many business environments. But when and how loud should we toot our horns?

• When we’ve closed the deal on a sale? Toot!
• When we’ve written a book? Toot!
• When we’ve made our first million? Toot!
• Appeared on TV or radio? Toot!
• When we’ve been embraced by an elite or exclusive group? Toot!
• Received a degree from an Ivy League college? Toot!
• Best Business of the Year Award recipient? Toot!

Luke 14:11 states, For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbled himself shall be exalted.

If our clients aren’t tooting our horns, is our horn tooting in vain? Who's tooting yours?

Ten P's of Business Success

1. Prayer – Spiritual guidance from God to ensure your work will bring glory and honor to Him
2. Passion – The enthusiasm to serve others through your business
3. Purpose – Clear business vision, existence, and desired outcomes
4. Perseverance – Determination to achieve success regardless of obstacles or setbacks
5. Patience – Ability to deal with difficult people and tasks
6. Partnership – Business relationships that strengthens your capacity to better serve your clients
7. Publicity – Life-changing services and/or products that create excitement about your business
8. Power – The power of God when you run out of your might to succeed
9. Performance – Criteria to evaluate and measure the effectiveness and impact of your work
10. Purity – Absence of activities and/or people that can taint your business existence or expansion

Can't Find a Job - Create Your Own

Okay, it’s been weeks, months, maybe a few years and you still haven’t found a J.O.B. If your job search strategy has primarily been behind a computer pushing emails and electronic resumes, your resumes are probably being added to thousands of job seekers in a virtual recruitment center being daily purged by the delete button. Which means your livelihood is somewhat in the hands of a virtual recruiter with the power to move your resume forward or prevent it from reaching your desired destination – the decision maker who can hire you.

Let’s face it, unemployment can stink, but it can also be a sweet aroma when you decide to use this experience as fuel to take charge of your life in spite of the economy! You’ve heard the saying If It’s Going to Be, It’s up to Me. That’s right; it’s going to be up to you to create your own path to financial freedom. Not the government, politicians, Mama, Daddy, Pookie – You! Here are a few suggestions to make it happen:

1. Develop a winning attitude and embrace the challenge to take charge of your life.
2. Define and create your dream job description without thinking about your bills or the economy. Just dream big!
3. Make a two-column list and write the required skills/resources needed to fulfill this dream job on the left side and your skills on the right.
4. Create an interim dream job description if you don’t have 80 percent of the required skills for your ultimate dream job.
5. Create a target-list of people/businesses that can benefit from your skills.
6. Identify your working/business relationship (e.g., contractor, W2 employee, consultant)
7. Make a list of people currently working your dream job and define what makes you stand out from them.
8. Write and send a one-page letter to business owners with your knowledge and interest, passion and skills, a value statement, and business quote from someone that has experienced your work. Also, keep a log of businesses you sent letters to.
9. Send a note or post card expressing your gratitude for business owners taking time to read your letter. Do this repeatedly until you receive a response.
10. Network with people that are employed and have winning attitudes.
11. If you’re low on funds consider the library, churches, community colleges, or volunteerism as resources to acquire the needed skills to create the job of your dreams.

Don't Knock it Until You've Tried It - Online Learning

Online training is helping millions of people all over the world get their long-awaited undergraduate or graduate degrees, launch and expand businesses, and gain skills to advance their careers. Then there are millions that haven’t taken advantage of this learning trend because of their preference of in-person training – concluding this training method is more legitimate when you can touch and feel your instructor or facilitator than hearing or watching using online media.

The SOFEI Group, Inc. has become perplexed of the apprehension towards online learning from people who have never tried it. And, as a training provider, we believe training is as legitimate of the trainees’ learning and development needs. Here’s our take on the benefits of online learning:

• It’s a cost savings for trainees and the environment (e.g., less paper trail associated with traditional training methods)
• It’s flexible and great for working parents with children
• It’s an egalitarian way to acquire skills and enhance knowledge
• Individuals currently serving in the military can take online classes while serving their country
• Individuals can take online courses from institutions worldwide
• Courses not offered at local colleges or universities can be accessed online
• Employees can participate in online seminars and classes without missing time from work
• Business owners can grow their business when they increase their business skills through online learning

E-learning is an effective and powerful method to engage in life-long learning and it has gained momentum on face-to-face instruction. Before knocking online training, explore the many online training opportunities designed to meet your training and development needs. A good place to start is with SOFEI Online.