If you were just finishing college or re-entering the job market after college, what one question would you ask the most successful person you know?

Well, I asked the most successful person I know here in the Twin Cities, Harvey Mackay.

Harvey is author of 6 NYT best-selling books, including Swim with The Sharks. He’s Chairman of MackayMitchell Envelope Company ($100 million and growing) and recipient of too many other accolades to list here.

He’s also author of the new, excellent book, Use Your Head to Get Your Foot in the Door, which I highly recommend you get.

(Why does a contributing co-author of Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0 recommend you buy somebody else’s book? Simple. We don’t care who’s right. We care what’s right. And Harvey’s book is right for anyone in the job market.)

The question I asked Harvey was this: What advice would you give someone who wanted to find a job?

His answer takes the long view of success. He advises that you enhance your skills today, to become more employable tomorrow.

In other words, never stop improving.

And the #1 way to do that, according to Harvey, is public speaking.

It just makes sense. If you can sell your ideas in speaking to others, you can convince others to hire you. And co-workers to cooperate with you after you’re hired. And managers to promote you after that. And so on.

Speaking persuasively is a virtuous cycle that can put you at the top of all candidates for a job, and lead you to the top of your industry after you get the job.

Even if you never aspire to be an internationally acclaimed speaker and author, like Harvey, public speaking can still create real, long-term job security for you.

Helpful resources: Toastmasters and Dale Carnegie (speaking training and the book on public speaking).