How survival in today's corporate hinges on taking up a corporate entrepreneur mindset.

1. “Common” can be defined as ordinary while “uncommon”
suggests rarity. However, combining Common Sense with
Uncommon Knowledge has the potential to produce
winners. While Common Sense has been noted to be in
short supply and Uncommon Knowledge hard to come by,
the Celebrity Experts®
in this book have combined the two
to produce high rates of success in their fields.
If you are looking to accomplish personal, worthy goals,
a helping hand will get you there faster. In addition, a
mentor will invariably get you there at less cost than
if you try to make your own way, helping you to avoid
errors that may be time-consuming or costly, or both.
Succeeding requires the attributes of hard work, sound
planning, action and perseverance—while combining
common sense and uncommon knowledge as a part of
the process.
This book presents a panel of CelebrityExperts®
including:
Financial Consultants, Wealth Managers, Retirement,
Investment and Health Specialists, Realtors®
, Marketers,
Coaches and other entrepreneurial specialists. They have
all attained success in their fields and would be pleased
to mentor you on your journey to attain your goal(s). You
need not be alone…
You see, in life, lots of people know what to do,
but few people actually do what they know.
Knowing is not enough! You must take action.
~ Anthony Robbins
The authors in this book have donated all royalties to Entrepreneurs
International Foundation. For more information, please visit
www.entrepreneursfoundation.com.
DESIGNED AND PRODUCED BY CELEBRITYPRESS®
WWW.CELEBRITYPRESSPUBLISHING.COM
Printed in the USA
Brian Tracy
Brian Farkas
Chris Duncan
Chris Goff
Bo Manry
Clayton Hart
Doug Chapman
Edward Storer
Jake Scott
Greg Rollett
Frank Merenda
James E. Fox
W. Adam Clatsoff
John Bennett
John Nicholls
Nick Nanton
JW Dicks
May Bagnel
Marjorie Dick Stuart
Elmer Davis, Jr.
Tracy Cousineau
Josh Painter
Joe MacMunn
Pa Joof
Phyllis Merrill
Perminder Chohan
Pia Washington
Rodney Jones
Stacie Widhelm
Stephen Van Vreede
Sua Truong
Tanja N. Reid
Thomas Helbig
Bradford Creger
Dr. Vincent J. Monticciolo,
DDS, MBA, JD
Diego Nicholas
Will Shannon
Roger O. Hudspeth
Chris Albonetti
Stephen Van Vreede helps his technical client members craft and communicate their unique
story (“personal brand”) and leverage the power of networking in today’s complex job market.
Before becoming an entrepreneur, he spent his days climbing the corporate ladder at a GE
Capital Company, where he engineered the growth and rapid technological advancement of a
large-scale international operation.
Stephen was struck by the volume of candidates that struggled to present themselves
successfully in professional interviews. An even bigger surprise was the realization that
corporate hiring and retention policies resulted in an often convoluted and chaotic process (what he calls corporate
“goo”) that left hiring managers and candidates frustrated and confused. So, with his wife, Sheree, in 2001, he decided
to jump off the corporate ladder and embark on an entrepreneurial adventure in the résumé and career services field,
where he could be an advocate for professionals.
Over the past 14 years, Stephen has shaped his member solutions to succeed in an ever-changing market but with
unique differentiation and value delivery at the core of all client member messaging. Starting out under the No-
Stone-Unturned umbrella, where they served professionals across a wide spectrum of industries, he and Sheree soon
recognized a gap in the career services industry in serving the technology, manufacturing, and engineering markets
and knew they could fill that gap.
Thus, ITtechExec was conceived, where Stephen now serves as President and Chief Solutions Architect. He and
his specialized team work with technical professionals, managers, and executives with 15+ years of experience.
Stephen and Sheree have recently also launched NoddlePlace to focus on emerging technical professionals with 5–15
years of experience. At both ITtechExec and NoddlePlace, they not only craft résumés but also portfolio solutions,
which are proving to be much more effective in the technical arena. In addition, they offer one-of-a-kind, “concierge”
NoNonsense®
job search agent solutions that build immediate momentum in the marketplace for their members once
their brand messaging is in place.
Stephen holds an MBA from Villanova University, a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, and a Six
Sigma Black Belt Certification from GE. He is an Academy Certified Résumé Writer (ACRW) and a Certified Professional
Résumé Writer (CPRW). As a Certified Online Professional Networking Strategist (OPNS) and Micro-blogging Career
Strategist (MCS), Stephen is an expert in career marketing through social media forums like LinkedIn and Twitter.
Stephen’s work has been featured in multiple CIO.com and TechRepublic.com résumé makeover series. He has been
a keynote speaker at industry conferences and has served as an expert contributor on technology career, résumé, and
personal branding topics for articles featured by CIO Magazine, CIO.com, Dice.com, and other publications. Stephen
is a Board Member for the Career Thought Leaders, a think tank for the now, the new, and the next in the career field.
He is also passionate about service in his local community, where he serves as an elected official on the Town Council.
You can connect with Stephen at:
Stephen@ITtechExec.com
www.linkedin.com/in/stephenvanvreede
www.twitter.com/ITtechExec
Featuring
Brian Tracy, Stephen Van Vreede
And Other Leading Entrepreneurs & Professionals
STEPHEN VAN VREEDE
Due in stores
and on Amazon
and B&N by
Summer 2015!!

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BUILDING UNCOMMON PROTECTION INTO YOUR ROLE IN CORPORATE AMERICA
CHAPTER 29
BUILDING UNCOMMON
PROTECTION INTO
YOUR ROLE IN
CORPORATE AMERICA
BY STEPHEN VAN VREEDE
THE RISE OF THE CORPORATE “ENTREPRENEUR”
Let’s face it. The world of “work” is more uncertain than ever. It
penalizes you for things you often can’t control ... for being too “old,”
too experienced, too qualified, too “educated,” too “expensive.” It
might not reward you for this certification or that title. On top of that,
corporate hiring processes are a sophisticated mess (to put it mildly),
internal cultural and multigenerational conflict is commonplace, and
many companies are struggling with how to retain their top talent.
As a result, professionals now make an external career move every 3 to
4 years. That means the average 30-year-old with 35 years (or more!)
left in the marketplace can expect 10 or more company changes before
he or she retires. Even if this professional were to beat the odds with an
internal promotion or two, by say double, he or she could still be out in
the market every 6 to 8 years.
If all that corporate “goo” isn’t bad enough, then there’s the job market
“zoo” to contend with.

3. UNCOMMON
254
It’s difficult to get solid stats, as they vary by market/industry, but the
general trend is that you can expect to spend one month job searching
for every $10–$20K you make in salary. So if you make $100K/year,
you could see your job search take anywhere from 5 to 10 months. And
that is when you’re conducting a fairly aggressive search (20+ hours/
week)! If you’re more of a “passive” seeker (employed and putting less
than 5 hours/week into your search), then the road could be much longer.
BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT
IT’S NOT ALL BAD NEWS!
Each day I work with professionals across the globe dedicated to
building in career protection, and they are achieving tremendous results.
Just like the rest of us, they face many of the same limitations: age,
gender, level of experience, geographic restrictions, lack of credentials,
market instability, and so on. The difference is in how they approach
these limitations and build in their protection from the storm.
IS THERE REALLY SUCH A THING
AS CAREER “PROTECTION”?
People tell me that “job security” is a myth today or that if you work for
someone else, such as a corporation, you can’t really control your fate.
And I understand what they mean.
IT SEEMS LIKE SOMEONE ELSE
IS HOLDING ALL THE CARDS
What they don’t realize is that this is what an entrepreneur faces
everyday, all day, for his or her entire career. The entrepreneur may well
be “the boss,” but this boss is all alone facing an unwelcoming market
that doesn’t care whether this entrepreneur makes it or breaks it, sinks
or swims.
Therefore, he or she must figure out how to get strategically positioned
in the marketplace to protect against the economic downturns (or even
upturns), perception/cultural shifts, internal power struggles, and any
other winds of change that, without a doubt, will blow.
The entrepreneur is rarely able to stop these winds; in fact, quite the
opposite is true. He or she must face them head on over and over again.

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BUILDING UNCOMMON PROTECTION INTO YOUR ROLE IN CORPORATE AMERICA
THE RISE OF THE CORPORATE ENTREPRENEUR
As I said, there is good news. If you plan to remain in the corporate
world, you really can build in some protections. But first you have to do
something that’s hard: Change your thinking.
DON’T BE FOOLED.
Corporate culture sometimes lulls us into thinking we are “safe” when
we aren’t or that this advanced degree or that certification will keep
us “marketable.” I’ve worked with many executives, MBAs, and other
educated professionals who’ve had the rug pulled out from under them
only to face a market that isn’t so welcoming.
They came to a point where they had little choice but to do something
different. It was time to shift gears.
YOU’RE GOING TO NEED MORE OF
AN “ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET”
THAN PERHAPS YOU’RE USED TO
The first step in becoming a “corporate entrepreneur” begins by
accepting the market for what it is, not for what it ought to be.
Accepting “what is” is an important shift in your thinking!
Once you do that, leaving behind how it was when you first started out
or how it should be, then (and only then) can you begin to do what every
good entrepreneur must do:
BUILD A CLEAR STRATEGY
Here is what differentiates most professionals (entrepreneurs and
corporate workers alike). Without a clear strategy (free from the “how it
should be” or “how it used to be” mindset), you’re like a row boat tossed
about out in the open sea or a leaf floating in a strong wind. You have an
idea of where you’d like to go, maybe even some plans for how to get
there, but you keep getting sidetracked by the waves and storms.
STRATEGY GIVES YOU BACK SOME CONTROL
Empowerment is a wonderful thing when focused productively, and that
is what good strategy offers. It provides confidence (not overconfidence),

5. UNCOMMON
256
because you’re looking at the market for what it is and adjusting with it
as it shifts. It reduces emotional drama (overreacting to trends or getting
sucked into corporate “speak”) and frees you to focus on providing
better service to the companies you serve.
SO HOW DO YOU BEGIN TO BUILD THAT STRATEGY?
I believe the best strategies are built from action, not from “over-
analysis.” In other words, you have to get out there and start doing some
research and you have to build some pipelines to keep you alert.
Too many people rush to build strategies based off of just what they
think they know.
So to help you get into this action mode, I’ve put together a 5-step
overview for getting started:
1. Create Pipelines of Opportunity.
Entrepreneurs understand the importance of pipelines, and
therefore corporate entrepreneurs should too. Pipelines bring
ongoing opportunities and valuable information even when we are
not “in the market.” They show us our position in the marketplace
and the trends that really matter. Without them, our world becomes
small, which means our understanding of the market around us is
narrow. So we need pipelines to broaden our scope and give us a
more accurate picture of our industry and our place in it.
There are many ways to create “pipelines.” The best come in
the form of strategic introductions (aka “networking”), which
we will discuss shortly. Another can be joining or building a
“career management” group that is dedicated to passing along
opportunities/information to fellow members. Recruiters (yes,
that frustrating bunch) can also be a strong pipeline, but you
must (1) be properly matched with them and (2) begin to form
relationships while you’re still employed.
2. Learn How to Watch Market Indicators.
When it comes to career management, people often talk about
“soul searching” and personality “assessments,” which have a
place (we all want to love what we do and be well suited for it),
but the corporate entrepreneur also recognizes the law of supply and
demand because despite the human element playing out each day
in the corporate world, ultimately what drives the market is supply

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BUILDING UNCOMMON PROTECTION INTO YOUR ROLE IN CORPORATE AMERICA
and demand. Like it or not, you are part of the bigger marketplace,
and it is affecting you, maybe even more than you realize.
It might not be sexy, I know, but watching market indicators in
our respective industries can show us what’s coming so we can
prepare for it. (I’ve witnessed many professionals, well-educated
and well-paid, get hit by this issue because they didn’t see it – or
refused to see it – coming.)
3. Build a Personal Brand.
Thinking your work history will speak for itself trips up corporate
professionals often more than any other issue. The reason is
because the corporate structure pretends to be paying attention
to what you do. From yearly reviews to promotions to awards
to mentorships to special rewards like trips and stock options,
companies act like they’re watching AND remembering your
achievements. And sometimes maybe they do.
More than likely, though, when you want to cash in on all that
watching and remembering, you might be surprised to learn that
people, by nature, are forgetful.
Entrepreneurs learn this every day. To make sure clients and
prospects remember and value the services provided (and refer
others!),theymustdevelopabrandandknowhowtocommunicate
it effectively.
It’s really no different inside the corporate compound as
management often doesn’t perceive us the way we do. And
although they gave us kudos for that stellar accomplishment,
when it’s time for a raise or promotion, we find out just how
much they remember.
Yet, as a corporate entrepreneur, you’ll be anticipating that.
You’ll recognize the way things are (not the way they should
be), and you’ll help guide your “customers” (co-workers,
management, users, etc.) down memory lane because you’ll have
the documentation, portfolio, statistics (aka “personal brand”)
ready to prove (or re-prove) your relevancy.
4. Don’t Get Trapped in the Networking Loop.
It’s simpler to build connections today thanks to social media and

7. UNCOMMON
258
its role as a networking tool. Of course, traditional networking
groups still exist, and almost every profession on the planet
has an association or two you can join. The reason is because
professionals have been told, and rightly so, that networking is
the most beneficial way to find a job.
The problem, though, is that these professionals either struggle
to make connections (online or off) or make plenty of them but
struggle with what to do with them once they have them, turning
tools like LinkedIn (where we “stash” all these contacts) into
nothing but a Rolodex.
And like a Rolodex that turns in a continuous loop, that’s where
most professionals are trapped when it comes to networking. It
just keeps turning as new names are added in, but nothing more
happens.
A corporate entrepreneur has the ability to build strategic
connections that turn into opportunities.All thanks to the pipelines
that build momentum, the market indicators that drive direction,
and the personal brand that asserts value.As a result, the corporate
entrepreneur can better identify and attract the connections that
make the most strategic sense.
From there, he or she can move into what is the most underused
tool by today’s professionals but arguably the most effective way
of creating opportunity and avoiding the job market zoo: the
informational interview.
5. Ace the Informational Interview.
Many professionals think informational interviews are only for
young people looking to research a field or for those changing
industries. What they don’t realize is that often top executives
only land their next positions through informational interviews
because they put you in control of creating opportunity.
In a traditional, formal interview, the interviewer asks the
questions and seemingly holds the power. In an informational
interview, you ask the questions and do the “vetting.” Your goal
is to have the contact lead you to someone else or some type of
potential opportunity, and you achieve that by putting the other
person in an important place: the role of helper.
Believe it or not, most professionals generally enjoy being a

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BUILDING UNCOMMON PROTECTION INTO YOUR ROLE IN CORPORATE AMERICA
resource to others. As long as you don’t take advantage of their
good graces, respect their time, and leave desperation out of it,
manywillfindwaystohelpyou.AsIworkwithmyclientmembers
to guide them through the informational interview process, I see
this play out beautifully because individuals generally enjoy
helping each other, particularly in today’s environment where so
much is stacked against the professional.
A Look at How It Could Be
When corporate entrepreneurship works best …
Meet Ahmed, a Project Manager in his 40s. He is a single dad with two young
children.Ahmed has gone through some rough times in his career. He worked
for two Silicon Valley startups that went bust. Then after landing what he
thought was a “safe” gig with a Fortune 100, he was promptly laid off.
His stints of unemployment have been hard on his family. Therefore, after
starting his latest role with another tech company, he’s vowed he’ll handle
his career differently this time. Although he certainly wants his current role to
work out, he doesn’t want to be caught off-guard again.
Thankfully, his job hopping has left him with contacts spread across his field,
so he’s invited several to join together to touch base monthly via LinkedIn on
latest trends, developments, and opportunities. Ahmed also has kept in touch
with two recruiters who were well matched with him during his last search,
and he’s set up reminders to check in with them routinely.
With those pipelines active, he’s scheduled biannual career strategy consults
to keep his résumé, LinkedIn profile, and other documentation updated, and
to help him massage his personal brand and assess the industry info he’s
received from his pipelines.
Ahmed also has taken it another step and has defined parameters for his ideal
employer type near his current home. He’s then reached out and introduced
himself to contacts at those employers and set up informational interviews,
creating yet another pipeline.
It’s taken some work to get up and running, and it continues to require some
nurturing, but Ahmed appreciates knowing that when the times comes, he’ll
be in a much better position for making a transition. Thanks to his strategy,
it’s more protection than he’s ever had!

9. UNCOMMON
260
ARE YOU READY TO JOIN THE RANKS?
The days of “putting your head down, working hard, and not burning
bridges = climbing the corporate ladder” might be fading. But it doesn’t
have to be negative. In fact, the corporate entrepreneur finds positivity
where others see none! I witness these professionals leverage the power
of the entrepreneurial mindset to rise above the chaos and protect the
careers they’ve worked hard to build (and the livelihoods that their
families depend on).
You can succeed in today’s environment if you know where to begin.
You don’t have to become overly ambitious or lose yourself in your
career. But the best defense is a good offense.
Corporate Entrepreneurs understand what it takes to be “UNCOMMON”
in Today’s world of work.
WILL YOU BE ONE OF THEM?

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BUILDING UNCOMMON PROTECTION INTO YOUR ROLE IN CORPORATE AMERICA
About Stephen
Stephen Van Vreede helps his technical client members craft and
communicate their unique story (“personal brand”) and leverage
the power of networking in today’s complex job market. Before
becoming an entrepreneur,he spent his days climbing the corporate
ladder at a GE Capital Company, where he engineered the growth
and rapid technological advancement of a large-scale international operation.
Stephen was struck by the volume of candidates that struggled to present themselves
successfully in professional interviews. An even bigger surprise was the realization
that corporate hiring and retention policies resulted in an often convoluted and chaotic
process (what he calls corporate “goo”) that left hiring managers and candidates
frustrated and confused. So, with his wife, Sheree, in 2001, he decided to jump off
the corporate ladder and embark on an entrepreneurial adventure in the résumé and
career services field, where he could be an advocate for professionals.
Over the past 14 years, Stephen has shaped his member solutions to succeed in an
ever-changing market but with unique differentiation and value delivery at the core
of all client member messaging. Starting out under the No-Stone-Unturned umbrella,
where they served professionals across a wide spectrum of industries, he and Sheree
soon recognized a gap in the career services industry in serving the technology,
manufacturing, and engineering markets and knew they could fill that gap.
Thus, ITtechExec was conceived, where Stephen now serves as President and Chief
Solutions Architect. He and his specialized team work with technical professionals,
managers, and executives with 15+ years of experience. Stephen and Sheree have
recently also launched NoddlePlace to focus on emerging technical professionals with
5–15 years of experience. At both ITtechExec and NoddlePlace, they not only craft
résumés but also portfolio solutions, which are proving to be much more effective in
the technical arena. In addition, they offer one-of-a-kind, “concierge” NoNonsense®
job search agent solutions that build immediate momentum in the marketplace for
their members once their brand messaging is in place.
Stephen holds an MBA from Villanova University, a Bachelor’s degree from the
University of Maryland, and a Six Sigma Black Belt Certification from GE. He is an
Academy Certified Résumé Writer (ACRW) and a Certified Professional Résumé Writer
(CPRW). As a Certified Online Professional Networking Strategist (OPNS) and Micro-
blogging Career Strategist (MCS), Stephen is an expert in career marketing through
social media forums like LinkedIn and Twitter.

11. UNCOMMON
262
Stephen’s work has been featured in multiple CIO.com and TechRepublic.com
résumé makeover series. He has been a keynote speaker at industry conferences
and has served as an expert contributor on technology career, résumé, and personal
branding topics for articles featured by CIO Magazine, CIO.com, Dice.com, and other
publications. Stephen is a Board Member for the Career Thought Leaders, a think
tank for the now, the new, and the next in the career field. He is also passionate about
service in his local community, where he serves as an elected official on the Town
Council.
You can connect with Stephen at:
Stephen@ITtechExec.com
www.linkedin.com/in/stephenvanvreede
www.twitter.com/ITtechExec