Get Clear. Get Results.

Clarity is a powerful thing in life, business, career, relationships and finances. There's not an area of life that clarity doesn't create a laser focus that leads to powerful results.

Why is clarity so important to results? As I often say in person, and included in my new book, Career Sudoku, Jerry Maguire put it best when he looked at Rod Tidwell and said "help me, help you". If your only goal is money, great. Get clear about how much money. $20,000, $200,000, $2 Million or $20 Million. Know what your goal is and have a clearly defined picture of it so whatever you do is to achieve that goal.

The same goes for your career goal. If your goal is to make money with your career, then you're already done. Set your financial goal and find a career you love and let it lead you to the money. Be careful of letting your thoughts limit you.

Clarity Create Results: Real Life
Most people would never image dog training to make them millions. Many parents certainly don't say "study hard so you can be a dog trainer one day," - mine didn't. Don't tell Cesar Millan that; he knew at the age of 13 he was going to be the best dog trainer in the world and he told his mom just that. When he came to the U.S. at 21 (illegally from Mexico, unable to speak English) he got a job at a dog grooming shop and another driving limos. That was 1990. He's now know as the "Dog Whisperer" with an empire that includes a #1 rated National Geographic series, a top rated Television series, three NY Times best selling books, a magazine, private foundation focused on his dog philosophy.

Many times when I write blog posts they're relevant to something in my life be it a client call, conversation, twitter question, facebook post, etc. Today's post was because as I add "author" to my portfolio of career coach and speaker it requires me to get clear on what it is I want to accomplish with my business.

You see, it's rather simple to see if you have a clearly defined job search strategy or business vision. Look at the results. Are they good? If not, get clear and you will get results.

Get Linked In to a New Opportunity

65 Million Professionals know what they're doing when they log in to LinkedIn each day to network with colleagues around the world. If you follow basic job search advice you already know that 80% of jobs are landed through networking and while I'm a strong advocate of lacing up, logging off and heading out the door to network in person, if you're in an anti-social mood and want to "network" online, you want to be doing it on LinkedIn.

First things first, this post (and I) are in no way affiliated with, or endorsed by, LinkedIn. What I am affiliated with is making the most of every opportunity, employed or unemployed.  This little-site-that-could has turned into a virtual professional networking powerhouse. Consider these facts:

• 65 Million Professionals
• 200 countries
• Available in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese & Spanish
• Free to join and use
• Excluse job listings
• Recruiters LOVE it
• 73% of recruiters spend their time online
• Your LI profile appears in Google search results
• 85% of hiring managers Google a candidate before, or after, an interview (wsj.com)

If you're not linked in already, it's time to get on this bandwagon and get your professional social status (and google results) moved up. If you're already linked in, what's your profile saying about you? Is it optimized to show your best foot forward?

Your profile is a virtual online resume. Does it align with what you want employers to see about you? Is your summary saying "I'm the most creative Marketing Director you've never met. My innovation will make you, and your bottom-line, happy." or is it the plain old "Results-oriented, self-motivated Marketing Director with a focus on clients and sales." borrrrrrinng. blah.

For tips on how to enhance your LI profile, check out this cool series of videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/LinkedIn#grid/user/C14AECD83E741288

For 6 Ways to Use LinkedIn - and Social Media Job Search Strategies including Google, Facebook and Twitter - check out http://www.careersudoku.com/.