An interesting blog post that I encountered while surfing through the blogroll was Dayah Johal`sregarding Al Ries and Jack Trout`s article on positioning. In both the article and her post, the alarming idea that something as simple as a name may very well affect another`s perception of the individual in question was brought up. Just as how an entrepreneur would need to carefully formulate a business plan to present to potential investors, individuals need to position themselves to the best of their abilities in order to stand out from the rest. Living in a city such as Vancouver, where a large proportion of the population is composed of people of Asiatic descent, my (ethnic) name on a resume or business card may mean absolutely nothing. At that moment, it is about what else I can bring to the table. Making an impression through a concise resume, or through an involved conversation during a networking event may be likened to writing a business plan. The executive summary is where the attention grabbing proposal needs to be laid out. Any section following is only a supplement to the initial proposal. Although it may seem unfair to be judged on the superficial basis of name, or in the case of a business plan, a lackluster executive summary, it is probably important to remember that if you are in the position of asking for the job or investment, you better deliver something that gives the potential employer or investor enough incentive to fork over the money.