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Cydcor Reviews: Onward
Author: Howard Schultz
Reviewer: Gail Michalak, Cydcor VP of Marketing and Communications
Description of this book: Onward is the story of how Starbucks Chief Executive Officer Howard Schultz turned Starbucks around after a downturn in financial performance. Schultz explains that while the recession definitely had an impact in the loss in profits for the massive international coffee and specialty company, the biggest factor was a shift in company culture. Onward explains Shultz’ decision to return to the CEO position after a departure to implement a hands on strategy to bring his company to its most profitable year ever. Between 2008 and 2011, Starbucks was able to find its way again and Schultz continues to lead it to record profits every year.
Why people should read this book: Gaining insight into how a multinational corporation is managed is a powerful experience. Howard Schultz not only reveals his focus for how to drive Starbucks back to glory, but is able to admit mistakes in his character and company strategy. The book reads more like a memoir than a business book, making it interesting for anyone with a larger than life character and an obsession with producing superior product. This is a great read for any manager looking for insight into how to deal emotions, negative push back, and implementing changes in corporate culture.
My favorite part: Howard Schultz frequently admits how personally he takes criticism against him, even over something as simple as seeing a competing cup of coffee in the hands of a stranger. He isn’t afraid to be self deprecating, exposing a very passionate and very realistic person behind the success. There are many examples of the book when Schultz acted on impulse—from writing an emotional internal memo that was leaked to the press, to throwing temper tantrums over breakfast sandwiches.
Gail Michalak is the VP of Marketing and Communications at Cydcor in Westlake Village, CA, where she overseas efforts in marketing, corporate communications, public relations, and events for Cydcor.
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Team member happiness and engagement is a priority at Cydcor (have you seen our Cydcor Harlem Shake video?). As office party experts, we wanted to share some tips to make your office party a success. Planning a holiday office party doesn’t have to be stressful. These suggestions could make your holiday party one of the best ever!
Have food that everyone can enjoy.
It can’t all be sweets. Have food that can accommodate all diets found in the office. Gluten-free or vegan options can add some variety to the typical holiday nourishment. Try this gluten-free Christmas cookie recipe here.
Create a holiday dress theme that will be memorable.
A holiday festivity isn’t complete without a suggested dress code. Be it an ugly sweater party, to dressing up as famous holiday movie characters, the theme of your holiday party can add a new dimension of fun to the typical work gathering. You could even make it holiday-colored formal wear only!
Incorporate community service or charity into the party.
They don’t call it the season of giving for nothing. While collecting money for food and supplies for the party, donate a portion toward you’re a holiday charity. Not only will you be helping a good cause, but you will also be promoting a theme of the holiday season! Even better, have the party after a community service event that will aid those who won’t have a place to stay for the holidays. At Cydcor, we try to incorporate our fundraising partnership with Operation Smile into many of our events and activities.
Keep the holiday jams coming (but also be negotiable).
Christmas music on repeat may be enjoyable to some but there are also people who aren’t big fans. Mix it up with a few classic party songs as well as some songs to sing along to, like Frosty the Snowman or Baby, It’s Cold Outside. You could even have an employee perform if there happens to be a musician in the office.
Decorate the office with attractive adornments.
It can be tough to get people into the holiday mood without some merry decorations. From fresh wreaths to ribbon garland, there really is no ceiling when it comes to making your party as festive as possible.
Keep everyone amused with fun activities.
There’s always the classic Secret Santa or White Elephant. People love stations for decorating Christmas cookies or building gingerbread houses. A raffle with prizes is a great holiday staple.
Many people are natural born salesmen. Building relationships and convincing people of their side of story is something comes easily to them. At Cydcor, we are happy to nurture young talented sales people with a gift for gab and laser focus abilities. However, some great sales people learn their skills from the college experience, for those looking to gain a broader perspective and refine the necessary skills. Here a few ways you can use your college classes to create a successful sales career.
Psychology teaches you about the human mind. You can learn how people will react to the things you say, how to gain trust, and what makes people want to buy your product or services. You can focus your abilities to read people into convincing them to come to your side.
Business will give you a broad overview of management, operations, and communications. Business majors are well rounded and have a solid understanding of how to identify needs and solve problems.
Finance or accounting degrees are useful for understanding numbers and efficiency. Finance majors will still need to focus on people skills but will understand what needs to get done in order to make the business profitable.
Communications is a great modern degree in order to study means and methods of communication. These skills will create savvy social media and email marketers as well as develop a solid understanding of how to get a message across. Communications majors can tap into what is important and popular, and put their particular spin on the situation.
While theater or drama may sound like a strange major for business, some of the best sales skills come from being able to act confident and knowledgeable even in situations where it is not truly the case. Actors know how to be charming and make friends with anyone, and can gain trust easily.
What do you think is helpful for a salesperson to study in college? Learn more about the skills necessary to be a sales rock star on Cydcor’s career page.
The job market is competitive today. Employers often get dozens of applicants for positions. Imagine being a simple line in a queue of applications, with a similar resume to ten other qualified candidates. Sometimes, it takes the extra effort to get called in for an interview. Here some ideas from the Cydcor sales blog to make an impression that will get you where you want to go when job hunting.
What are some great things you’ve done to get noticed in the past?
Cydcor Reviews Platform by Michael Hyatt
Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World
By Michael Hyatt
Review by: Gail Michalak
Description of this book: Getting noticed is getting increasingly more difficult. The Internet has made is free and easy for anyone to fill the world with information. If you are a writer or a business owner, having a strategy to build and audience is key to sustaining income. Publishing executive Michael Hyatt explains how to create a compelling product and combine it will a meaningful platform. This book has been endorsed by marketing guru Seth Godin, best selling author Dave Ramsey, and former Yahoo! Executive Tim Sanders. Hyatt explains how to get traffic to your website over and over again and build the life you want to lead.
Why people should read this book: Whether you want to drive sales, promote yourself for a job, publish a book or become a blogger, this book explains how to build an audience and make a good impression. Hyatt also guides you through using all the major social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter. This book will help you navigate an increasingly digital world. It is important not to get left behind.
My favorite part: Michael Hyatt writes with honesty from his own experience. He is not afraid to expose his own stories of failure before he hit success. His words are encouraging but also honest, he assures you there is no “quick fix” when it comes to building your platform, but that hard work can pay off once your strategy is in place.
Gail Michalak is the VP of Marketing and Communications for Cydcor. Gail overseas all of Cydcor's digital media, public relations, corporate communications and marketing efforts.
We know little things can add up to a big difference. In continuing our fundraising work for Operation Smile, we have been collecting recyclables and donating the proceeds!
We placed recycling containers designated especially for Operation Smile fundraising around the office. Once they are filled, a Cydcor team member volunteer brings the items to the recycling center to collect the refund.
We have already raised enough for one Smile (each one is $240) and are well on our way to another – our current tally is almost $380!
Since partnering with Operation Smile in 2010, Cydcor and volunteers from its network of independently-owned sales companies have raised enough to fund two medical missions, and are well on the way to a third! The missions take place in areas of the world with limited medical care; a team of professionals provide cleft palate surgeries to those who would have no way of obtaining the surgery otherwise.
We’re really excited about each and every dollar we are able to raise and contribute. Operation Smile is our passion. Recycling is so easy to do and can really add up – and make a difference.
Cydcor is happy and proud of its efforts to give back to the communities that support our business. You can donate to the Cydcor Operation Smile page today and make a difference in a child’s life.
Cydcor began a project working with EARTHS magnet school this year to mentor and tutor students for the elementary school.
Each day of the week, two different team members from Cydcor volunteer for an hour in one of these classrooms, working with children and teachers on a variety of projects and learning sessions.
Last year, Cydcor team members created literacy kits for faculty, which contained games and activities for students to encourage reading comprehension. Volunteers also assisted the school in a gardening project – in line with the earth science focus of the magnet school.
“Cydcor volunteers are a true gift to our students! Our kindergarten children look forward to interacting with the Cydcor staff, and their presence allows students to receive individual and small group time,” said Jennifer Boone, principal of EARTHS. “The time and impact mentors have on our children is priceless. Cydcor is a true example of a business that gives back to the community.”
“Our goal is to support EARTHS by mentoring the kids, helping them cultivate confidence in their own skills and abilities,” said Cydcor Chief Operating Officer Vera Quinn. “Gaining the academic skills to succeed is just one part. Mentorship is so important to the overall development of children, and we really want to make a difference in their lives.”
To see more of Cydcor's work at the EARTHS magnet school, head over to the Cydcor Flickr page.
Cydcor has renewed its commitment to EARTHS Magnet School and is continuing to send team member volunteers to the Environmental Academy of Research Technology and Earth Sciences (EARTHS) Magnet School to work with children in grades K/1 and K/2, further demonstrating their commitment to their community.
Each day of the week, two different team members from Cydcor volunteer an hour in one of these classrooms, working with children and teachers on a variety of projects and learning sessions.
Last year, Cydcor team members created literacy kits for faculty, which contained games and activities for students to encourage reading comprehension. Volunteers also assisted the school in a gardening project – in line with the earth science focus of the magnet school.
“Cydcor volunteers are a true gift to our students! Our kindergarten children look forward to interacting with the Cydcor staff, and their presence allows students to receive individual and small group time,” said Jennifer Boone, principal of EARTHS. “The time and impact mentors have on our children is priceless. Cydcor is a true example of a business that gives back to the community.”
“Our goal is to support EARTHS by mentoring the kids, helping them cultivate confidence in their own skills and abilities,” said Cydcor Chief Operating Officer Vera Quinn. “Gaining the academic skills to succeed is just one part. Mentorship is so important to the overall development of children, and we really want to make a difference in their lives.”
This year, Cydcor will also be hosting their annual Thanksgiving Canned Food Drive for the families in need at EARTHS. Last year, they were able to help 100 families; this year, they plan to make a difference in 115 families’ lives. Additionally, over the next year, Cydcor team members will continue volunteering time and their role as a community partner with the school.
Want to learn more? Check out Cydcor on Facebook and Twitter.
About Cydcor
Cydcor is the leading provider of outsourced, face-to-face Cydcor sales teams to a diverse client base of companies in a wide range of industries, including telecommunications, office products, retail, energy, and financial services. Serving Fortune 500 and emerging market clients in the business-to-business, residential, and retail channels through in-store marketing initiatives, Cydcor works with a network of more than 350 independently-owned corporate licensee (ICL) Cydcor sales offices, providing clients access to more than 4,300 sales professionals. The privately-held company is based in Westlake Village, California. For more information about Cydcor, go to www.cydcor.com.
Cydcor
Gail Michalak, 805-277-5500
There is nothing like a perfect song to get pumped up for the morning. At Cydcor, we know working in sales takes energy and motivation. Here is a list of some of our favorite songs to get you ready for work.
What are your favorite songs to fire you up for work?
At Cydcor, we work hard. Sales is a difficult career that anyone can succeed at through determination and strong relationship building. That's why it's important as a team to have as much fun as we work! Check out the pictures from our Halloween party below:
In sales, people have to have to interact with each other all day. Success in sales comes from being able to feel confident and comfortable in most situations. At Cydcor, we do our best to present the most effective sales teams around. One way to easily improve your sales confidence can be as simple as taking two minutes to stand powerfully.
Nonverbal communication has a lot of value in society. How we interact with each other can lead to very important decisions in life, such as whether someone is hired, sued, or accepted for a date. One second of political candidate facial expressions can predict election outcomes 70% of the time.
In addition to using body language to judge others, social psychologist Amy Cuddy has reported research that the way we move and carry ourselves also affects the way we judge ourselves. Further, many body expressions and postures reflect similar positions in the animal kingdom. When we are afraid we make ourselves small and meek, trying to appear insignificant. When we want to display power, we make ourselves big and open.
Power stances are known across the animal kingdom. Also, that powerful people express power chronically as well as in moments of victory. Even people who were born blind have been showed to display the upward v shape with the arms after winning something, the way racers do when they cross a finish line.
When powerful people and fearful people interact, body language reflects this as well. People unaware of fear will often shrink in the face of an open power stance without realizing it. Professor Cuddy realized the difference in power stances in the classroom, and decided to try an experiment to see if grades would improve on students she trained to stand powerfully.
The results were stunning. It turns out that powerful stances for two minutes actually increase hormones that contribute to self-confidence and assertion. So the fake-it-till-you-make-it strategy actually has a physiological affect that helps people be more confident and assertive. See the amazing talking by Professor Cuddy below: