“Do it, delegate it or delete it,” is a Marine Corps maxim that is applied to any request that comes in – verbally or electronically. It’s the idea behind touching each task only once.

Thanks to the extraordinary hospitality of the folks at Toyota Motorsports, I had a dream day for a business writer on July 12th. My next book, which will be coming out in a year, is about management lessons gleaned from the history of auto racing.

Your ideal employment opportunity might not be listed on a job board. For that matter, it might not even have a job description. Here are some tips on identifying, developing and landing a job that doesn’t currently exist.

You have been working diligently in your search for a new job opportunity. Finally, you land an interview and get a great offer. The hiring manager indicates that the only thing remaining is a background check (BC). Your heart starts to pound and beads of sweat appear on your forehead. Questions fly through your mind. Let’s answer these questions for you.

As you might know, Internet applications dominate the employment landscape. This means that you can find online job postings in droves. As more and more job hunters descend upon these same boards, it can be tough to stand out as a specialist.

Be Serious

Truth be told, it’s very difficult for me to conduct a seminar when the attendees refuse to get serious. My approach is to create an environment where people can pause, reflect, develop an idea, share the idea with another person, hear that person’s ideas, and together create even more powerful ideas. However, when people can’t stop joking and giggling the whole time it’s very difficult to get much done. Fortunately for me, I haven’t been with a group like that for a very long time.

Much has been said about creating a perfect resume, but little attention is paid to the document that precedes it: the cover letter. A well-crafted cover letter can not only deliver a solid first impression, it can actually influence the hiring manager even before the resume is reviewed.

Summer is upon us! The price of gasoline has gone through the roof; millions of children are unleashed from school; and, guaranteed, job seekers are frustrated enough to put their job search on hold.

The “Six Layers of Why” is a mental exercise consultants use to deliver recommendations to a client, in the client’s own language. The technique is simple. When you hit a roadblock ask, “Why?” When you’ve gotten the answer, ask the same question again. Repeat four more times. Although asking the same question over and over may initially seem irritating or childish, it can often lead to unexpected answers or insights. Exploring the “Six Layers of Why” ensures you haven’t left any ideas unturned.

Some people never have to look for a job. Companies and recruiters are constantly knocking on their doors. Wouldn’t you want to be one of those people? It’s easier than you think. Here are five tips you can follow to help build and maximize your candidacy value in any industry.