1.  Your organization can no longer live up to it’s vision.  This is typical of companies and groups that have a breach of integrity.  They fail to fulfill the goals they set out to do.

2.   It’s either vague or too long, not “just right”.  While an organization may be trying to illustrate several different points of interests in a statement, longer ones can bring about confusion.

3.   Your competition is saying the same thing (and does a better job at doing it). Branson sums up the article with one simple form of advice: “brevity is key”.  He recommends applying a twitter-like 140 character template in explaining your organization’s purpose and expectations, which should read like a motto worth repeating.

To learn more on how to draft a mission statement, visit my blog post, What, Why, Who, and How: 4 Questions to Answer in Writing an Effective Mission Statement

Evolving beyond just being annoying, trolls are becoming strategic in direct targeting and are even hired by companies to criticize and harass competitive brands and voices online.  Strategic trolling serves two purposes: to gain influence over your followers by discrediting your reputation online through social media,  and to cause technical disruption by posting false, misleading content through sites and blogs affiliated with your brand. Here are the top 4 strategic trolling tactics that ruin brands:

1. Leading you into the honey trap via interviewing. A honey trap is when a brand rep is lured into an opportunity which may benefit the bran on the surface, but later places the rep in a compromising position.  You may be asked to do an interview where the mood of the discussion may take a controversial turn. The purpose is to get a reaction out of you on record.  Unless, you have a trained media representative for your company or brand, stay on course by avoiding honey trap-like invitations that function as set ups.  

2. Change or alter your photos on social networking sites. This tactic has become especially popular among those who are photoshop-savvy.  Images are deemed questionable depending on the context of which they are presented.  For example, being photographed walking with a member of the opposite sex can get you accused of cheating if a troll is creative in building a malicious, yet convincing story around it.  Monitor photos of you posted on the net as well as who has authorization to share them. The longer questionable images stay public, the easier it is for them to spread.

3. Writing or creating a false review about your services.  Basically, someone who claims to be a former client or user of your product writes a blog or creates a Youtube review bashing it for the sole purpose of discrediting you.  Perform Google and social media searches every other day to see what people are saying about your products and services. Be prepared to set the record straight. Resolve online complaints head on and quickly by responding with solutions.

4. Interceding your business deals with the intention to stop them. This can be something as small as posting negative comments continuously on your site or as big as emailing your partners with false information about your company.  Please know that leaking confidential information about your clients online is illegal and punishable in most state courts. However, if trolls can prove that the source of the information is from you than you will be at fault and accountable to the backlash.  

You can further protect themselves by making privacy and security a priority in the social media management of your brand.  Make sure you have a confidentiality statement included in your contracts even if administered via email. If an intern or another person is running your social media profiles, create posting rules and guidelines for them to follow.  Review and audit all content scheduled to be published on your site publically and have any comments moderated. Remember, you control your image online, so be diligent in protecting it.

In attempt to make their companies more lean, employers are producing with less labor, leading to a decrease in hiring.  The current job market focuses on which fields remain consistently in demand, and those in transition are paying attention. Being ready psychologically by having ambition to go after the type of job you want is just as important as having the resources to do so.  Switching job hats requires one to be flexible within a changing economy and adapt by learning new skills.  

Career shifting can be intimidating to those who crave security and stability, but it doesn’t have to be if you take the critical time needed to reflect on this decision before leaping straight in and going about steps half-wittingly.  Here are 5 honest and personal questions you should ask yourself in accessing whether changing careers is the right course of action for you:

1. Why do you want to do this?  There are many reasons why people want to change careers that are often related to their passions and beliefs about work.  Spend some time making a list of reasons why you feel you need a change in careers and what you hope to gain from a new position.  Be honest in making this list and take into account those who may be affected by your decision.

2. Are you up for it?  Finding a new position can be stressful and requires a lot of patience.  Having stamina and the ability to not take rejection personally are two positive traits career changers should have. Finding a mentor or letting your friends know about your intentions can be helpful in building a relational support system. You’ll need to surround yourself with people who believe in you at times when you are ready to give in.  Attending church, meditating, goal-mapping, exercising, and spending more time with family are just a few ways that people gain energy to deal with upcoming stresses. Find ways to refuel and focus yourself.

3. What are the opportunity costs involved?  Entering into a new career field may mean learning new skills.  Going back to school as a returning or new student can be expensive if you haven’t saved to pay the tuition and fees associated with college. Make a list of the amount you are willing to invest in yourself to get the position you want. Allocate money for travel expenses to and from interviews and expenses related to printing such as resumes and business cards. Remember taking advantage of opportunities also means having the ability to invest time in your new search.  Using free time to spend towards job hunting may seem like a sacrifice now, but it’s well worth it if you get the result you want.

4. What is your timeline? Create a goal by marking the amount of time you think it will take you to start a new career.  Give yourself a deadline for when you want to complete your career shift. Your timeline can be broken up into quarters or segments of time composed of weeks or months for smaller goals.  Include deadlines such as when you want to be completed with new classes you may be taking or the number of interviews you want to have scheduled for the month. Plug in important dates of events for networking, job fairs, and professional development seminars to keep yourself on task.

5. What is your Plan B?  For some people, the “plan B” may be learning how to be happy in the position they are currently in.  In this case, don’t be afraid to admit to yourself that changing careers may not be the best option for you at this moment, and work on improving your quality of life outside of your job.