Table of Contents
Preface xi
Introduction xiii
About the Author xix
Part 1 At Your Best Fundamentals: The Rules of the Game
Chapter 1 AYB Playbooks & AtYourBest.com 1
At Your Best with Subject Matter Experts 5
Sources, Methods and Credibility 6
Local and Actionable 9
Chapter 1 Replay 9
Chapter 2 AYB Playbooks Are for You, If… 11
Who This AYB Playbook Is For… 13
Chapter 2 Replay 17
Chapter 3 The AYB Mental Framework 19
It All Begins with "You, Inc." 21
3P+A = People, Performance, Professionalism & Attitude 24
Success with 3P+A 25
Curiosity: An Important State of Mind 27
Future-Proof Your Life with a Skilled Trade Career 29
At Your Best as a Craftsman 31
At Your Best as a Woman in the Skilled Trades 32
Chapter 3 Replay 34
Part 2 At Your Best as a Welder: Becoming a World-Class Player
Chapter 4 Career Overview: Welder 39
Why Become a Welder? 43
Welder: Job Responsibilities 43
Welder: Minimum Required Skills & Abilities 44
Welder: Work Conditions 45
Welder: Earning Potential 46
Welder: Your Career Options 47
Becoming a Welder: Is it for You? 48
Chapter 4 Replay 50
Chapter 5 Your Path to Becoming a Welder 53
How to Become a Welder 55
The Career Stages of a Welder 55
The Foundation of Your Craft: Education, Training and Certifications 60
High School or Its Equivalent 61
Khan Academy 62
CareerOneStop: Your First Stop for Finding Local Resources 63
Welding or Vocational School versus Community College 64
Finding the Right Type of School or Program for You 65
Post-9/11 GI Bill & Vocational Education 67
Apprenticeship: The Degree that Pays You 68
Welding Certifications and Licenses 71
At Your Best as a Union Member 73
Trade Unions & Associations for Welders 74
At Your Best as a Military Veteran 75
YouTube is Your Friend 76
Chapter 5 Replay 78
Chapter 6 Finding Work as a Welder 81
Your Job Search Starting Points 84
Your Full-time job is to Find a Full-time Job 85
Your Skills are Portable 85
AYB Steps & Tools to Find a Great Job 85
"Force Multipliers" & Networking to Find a job 87
Think Like Your Future Employer 92
Drug Testing & Getting Hired or Fired 93
Where to Turn for More Information 94
Your Local Librarian 94
Chapter 6 Replay 95
Chapter 7 At Your Best with 3P+A in Action 97
People: The First P in 3P+A 101
Performance: The Second P in 3P+A 102
Professionalism: The Third P in 3P+A 104
Attitude: The A in 3P+A 106
Chapter 7 Replay 107
Chapter 8 Getting Your Head Straight, Part 1 109
Chapter 8 Replay 124
Part 3 At Your Best as a Small Business: Building a World-Class Franchise
AYB Playbooks & Recommended Reading 128
Chapter 9 At Your Best: The Pre-Game 133
At Your Best before the Game 135
You, Inc. as a Small Business 136
SWOT Early & Often 137
Launch You, Inc. with Your Eyes Wide Open 140
You, Inc. Demands Courage 142
You, Inc. Demands Curiosity 144
Make the Web Your Business Partner 145
Small Business Administration's Learning Center 146
My Own Business, Inc. 146
Chapter 9 Replay 147
Chapter 10 At Your Best: The Kick Off 149
At Your Best from the Start 151
You, Inc.'s Customers: The Center of Your Universe 155
You, Inc.'s Go-to-Market Plan 157
You, Inc.'s Market Positioning 159
You, Inc.'s Path to Quick Wins 163
Your Timing & Action Plan 165
For You, Inc., Cash Is Life 167
You, Inc.'s Startup Financial Needs 168
You, Inc.'s Sales Forecast 170
You, Inc.'s Expense Budget 173
You, Inc.'s Profit & Loss Statement 175
Financing You, Inc. 176
You, Inc.'s Back-Office Infrastructure 177
"Licensed, Bonded & Insured" 178
Which Legal Structure is Right for You, Inc.? 180
Chapter 10 Replay 183
Chapter 11 At Your Best: Game On 185
At Your Best on the Field 187
Customer Service: Your Competitive Advantage 188
At Your Best with Force Multipliers 191
Growing You, Inc.'s Business through Networking 192
You, Inc.'s VP of Sales & Business Development 193
Getting the Word Out 194
Customer Leads & Reviews on the Web 198
Table Stakes Marketing Toolkit 199
You, Inc., Technology & Running Your Business 203
Chapter 11 Replay 206
Chapter 12 At Your Best: Halftime 209
At Your Best through Regular Review 211
Whatever It Is, SWOT It 212
Success as a Leader of a Small Team 214
You, Inc. & Your Employees and Contractors 217
Never Enough Time in the Day 218
Improve or Remove 221
Get Back on the Field 223
Chapter 12 Replay 223
Chapter 13 Getting Your Head Straight, Part 2 225
Chapter 13 Replay 238
Chapter 14 At Your Best: Going Pro 241
At Your Best Going to the "Next Level" 243
Chapter 14 Replay 245
Glossary of Terms 247
List of AYB Quick Tools 251
Afterword 253
