Not surprisingly, the current issue of Sport’s Illustrated is focused on the 00’s and all the sport’s stuff that has occurred over the past decade. In reading through the “Scorecard” section this morning, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud at some of the quotes listed. They were certainly Yogi Berra worthy and I thought I would share a few of them. Enjoy!

• Rich Glas – Basketball coach at Div II North Dakota, on motivating his team before a game with #4-ranked Kansas: “I told our guys, ‘they put their pants on the same way we do. They just pull them up two feet higher.’ “ Gotta love a coach with a sense of gallows humor
• George W. Bush – Upon meeting Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Joe Garagiola Jr.: “I’m always suspicious of guys who’ve got a famous father.”  Say what?
• Jesse Rogers – Cubs radio broadcaster, while interviewing relief pitcher Antonio Alfonseca, who has 6 fingers on each hand: “Were you born that way?”  Don’t you just love this brainiac?
• Michael Vick – Falcon’s (at the time) QB, on the secret of his success: “I have two weapons–my legs, my arm and my brains.”  At least he wasn’t quoted talking about dogs…
• Mike Heimerdinger – Titan’s offensive coordinator, on why he’s never gotten an NFL head coaching job: “They’re looking for big names, not long names.”  That might change as this could be the year for Dinger to get his shot.
• Anna Kournikova – Tenis vixen, when asked about her love life at a press conference to promote the undergarments she endorses: “I’m not here to talk about my personal life. I’m here to talk about bras.”  Thankfully, her looks could only take her so far…and she has faded away from the tennis scene.
• John Daly – To FHM, on why he doesn’t go to the gym: “They won’t let smoke in there.”  What a waste of talent. Very sad actually…
• Doc Rivers – Celtics coach, after being asked how long Kevin Garnett would be out with a strained abdominal muscle: “You know Doc’s a nickname, right?”  A classic one-liner!
• Mike Cameron – Met’s outfielder, dismissing the problems caused by the sun at Shea Stadium: “The sun has been there for 500, 600 years.”  So, Mike, where was the sun before that?
• Guy Morriss – Baylor football coach on tight games: “Playing close is like showering with your sister. It’s no good.”  And people say Baylor has gotten too liberal…

Just gotta love some of the stuff sports people say. What’s one of your favorite “say what?” sports quote?

Hard to believe this year is almost over, isn’t it? For me, it’s even harder to believe I’ve been posting to this blog for almost 16 months. What started out as pretty much just a whim, has turned into something I really enjoy doing. The blog is now averaging 600-800 readers a month and it continues to grow.  My thanks to you, the reader, for helping to make this happen.

 As this year winds down, I just want to take this opportunity to share 20 of the most popular posts from 2009. Hopefully you will enjoy catching some of the ones you may missed throughout the year.

Who Owns The United States?

7 Qualities of a Great Leader

God Is Love

Living Out God’s Love

Living Out God’s Love – Part 2

Living Out God’s Love – Part 3

What Not To Say To Your Wife

Is It Going To Rain Today?

10 Stratagies to Help Retain Millennials

Top 10 Reasons Why People Stay With An Organization

Impact of Social Networking on Personal Networks 

A Blessed Day on the Slopes of Ski Santa

Top 6 Ways To Blow A Job Interview

A Gift of a Bible

Christian Ethics…an oxymoron?

Service Done Right!

Truly Living Out The Christian Faith

Don’t Be A Jerk Boss!

Internships, or Free Work?

How Much ‘Selling’ Should You Do In A Job Interview?

The blog has evolved over the past year as I’ve worked through trying to find my voice and, no doubt, will continue to evolve.  In looking forward to 2010, I see my blog focusing more and more on leadership, management and marketing, primarily as they relate to Christian business and camping. Helping Christian leaders, especially those called to Christian camping, is something I’m becoming more and more passionate about.

As we move into 2010, what are some topics you would like to see me concentrate on? Feel free to comment on the blog, or send me an email directly. My email address is byron.hill@lifeway.com. I look forward to hearing from you!

I recently read an online article entitled “Win Your Next Job With Three Essential Interview Skills”. The premise of the article was that job seekers needed to treat their job searches as sales campaigns and apply sales techniques to their job interviews.

While I agreed with most of what the article said, there were other parts that made me go, “are you kidding me?”. As a manager who has conducted hundreds of interviews and hired positions ranging from hotel general managers to dishwashers, some of what was suggested were bright red flags to me.

Here are the 3 sales skills highlighted as necessary to win the next job interview and my perspective as a hiring manager:

Pre-interview preparation - This one’s pretty much a no-brainer. Prior to any interview, the job seeker should research (as much as possible) the organization they’re applying with. Doing so will give one a good understanding of who the organization is, what they do and hopefully, a little insite into their corporate culture. Since joining LifeWay Conference Centers & Camps, I’m amazed at how many people apply for a position with us without really understanding who we are, or what we believe in. I find this especially true of those who find the job posting on secular job listing site.

Finding and using the interview “Hot Buttons” - The premise here is for the interviewee to discover the interviewer’s unspoken concerns or wishes, i.e. their hot buttons. While I agree it’s important to determine what the interviewer is looking for in the ideal candidate, I think one has to be very careful not to come across as trying to manipulate the interview. As a hiring manager, I’m pretty specific in telling the applicant what I’m looking for. If I feel the interviewee is trying to frame their responses to fit what they think I’m looking for, that’s a red flag to me.

Utilize trial closes - Trial closes are the little steps a sales person utilizes to move the sales process along. (Think back to the last time you bought a car. I guarantee your sales person utilized numerous trial closes to move you to eventually buy your car.) This was the part of the article I disagreed with the most. While critical to successfully completing a complex sale, utilizing trial closes in a job interview could be detrimental to the interviewee.

Here are the some of the trial close questions suggested:

• Is there any reason why you wouldn’t consider inviting me back for a 2nd interview? 
• Who will I meet in the 2nd interview?
• Who, besides yourself, will make the final hiring decision?
• When is convenient for Mr/Mrs Decision Maker to meet w/me?
• Are there any objections that prevent you from extending me an offer?
• When would you like me to start?

While a couple of these questions (1,2,3) are ok, asking the others runs the risk of putting the interviewer on the defensive, something I think is very bad idea. I understand asking questions to try to determine where one is in the hiring process, but don’t be presumptuous. Believe me, most hiring managers can tell the difference and will not appreciate being played.

What do you think? Agree, or disagree?  What interview skills work for you?