Greg Satell on Turn A Rounds....

As an ex-pat active in emerging markets, I’m usually called in when things look pretty bad. I’ve had my fair share of distressed situations over the years, and I know there’s no shortage of turnaround situations in this environment. So I thought I’d share some of what I’ve learned from some hard experiences.

The following is a 5 step process that has produced results.


1. Identify Heroes, Holdouts and In-Betweens



- Heroes: Every company has a group of committed, talented people who love what they do. They are usually frustrated by the events that led up to the crisis and have been holding on, hoping things will change. These people will be the key to your turnaround strategy and the first thing you need to do is identify some of them.



- Holdouts: These people don’t want anything to change and will fight you every step of the way. Fortunately, they are a small minority, but they can do a lot of damage. Figuring out who these people are is never very hard. They are usually proud of their role as a “status quo evangelist.”



- In-Betweens: Most people are fence-sitters and will go along with whatever seems easiest. They don’t really mind the status quo that much, but would like to see things improve. Usually, you are just the newest “change initiative” so they are going to wait and see how things will go. Unlike Heroes and Holdouts, In-Betweens are trying not to be noticed.



2. Start small and easy



The most common turnaround mistake is to try to change too much at once. Usually people are exhausted, demotivated and frustrated. Moreover, you haven’t proved yourself and probably don’t understand the business or its problems very well yet (even if you think you do). Trying to do too much too soon will inevitably end in failure and you will lose your momentum even before you really had any.



Your first initiatives should be relatively small and play to your strengths. Although it might seem that you don’t have time and need to move quickly, overreaching will not make things move faster, it will only set you back and you will lose valuable time that you really don’t have.



3. Fire away!



Within 3-6 months (and sometimes faster), you will need to do your first round of firings. This is usually surprisingly easy, since the people responsible for the poor performance of the company are usually still around and quite proud of their role as a thorn in your side. These “holdouts” are invariably incompetent, nasty and fighting you every step of the way. Moreover, they are not usually well liked outside a small circle of loyalists and most people are happy to see them go.



4. Re-organize and build momentum

At the same time you are doing your first round of firings, you need to start building momentum. Hopefully, by this time you have had some small successes, identified some heroes and solved some of the problems that were destroying value. Now you can start moving your heroes into key positions, bringing in some new talent and start solving some tougher problems.



5. Formulate a long-term strategy



By the end of the first year, you will need to formulate a real long-term strategy. The tendency is to want to do this first, but that is always a big mistake. When you come into the company you do not understand the business or its problems well enough to know what its long-term strategy should be. Besides, you will spend most of the first year fighting fires, so formulating an “eye level” strategy is not something you’re going to have the time or energy to do.



The key to formulating a long-term strategy in a turnaround is to identify the unexpected successes within the company. Most companies have people, processes or products that can create enormous value, but have been overlooked. Usually, the company is so focused on its failure, that it has been blind to the potential for success. Get your heroes together and build a strategy to move the company forward.



I hope you have found this helpful. Please let me know your comments.

Making Most Out of The New World of Work

Patty DeDominic

The Author, "At Work"


Today I was thinking about many things to be thankful for and had a chance to review material submitted recently for a Green publication on making the most out of technology.    Another friend lamented his wishes to return to the good old days when things were simpler.  I reminded him that while things did seem simpler, slower and more sincere, they were also more limiting for many people.

I love that technology enables us to be connected 24/7 IF we choose to be and that for increasing numbers of us, connectivity  enables us to smell the flowers AND work flexibly when WE choose.    That is what I have tried to do these past few years since I sold my large firm and became a "micro-enterprise" with only virtual employees.   Not just to smell the flowers...... but to take time to learn their names and discern which ones have fragrances that I love and which ones don't even have a smell to me!

Here are a few tips to remember about the New World of Work:


1. Give your life some added dimension, if you work at home enjoy the comforts but don’t forget to stay stimulated by being involved in your community.  Your growth has got to be internal and externally stimulated to be maximized.


2. Make new contacts, friends, links etc, but remember that your long term relations, grown with experience and credibility are like gold.


3. Learn from everyone you come in contact with/ consider a job or success coach! Executive, artistic and life coaches are a fast growing profession.   Reach out and find those who can make a big difference in your enjoyment of your work and your life.


4. There is power in focus…..decide what your passion is and pursue it to make the world a better place.    This is a key that all top performers and  CEO's know about...... being busy is not a good solution, being Effective is much better.     You are more effective when you have prioritized your opportunities and focus on the 20 percent of the activities which bring 80 percent of the desired results.

 

Candace Davies on Tips for Teachers

Learn from your teachers!   Even if you are not applying for a job in education or training, this
example is wise advice.       Candace Davies has an active website and advises teachers, professors
and administrators about the best opportunities in Education.

Presenting a Sample Lesson During a Job Interview





When applying for a teaching job, you may find that some

employers will ask you to conduct a sample lesson. This is

something that some hiring committees like to include as part of

the interview process, it get an understanding of your classroom

presentation skills.



In order to prepare for a sample lesson, the first step is to

practice at home. If possible, ask a friend or family member to

watch your presentation so they can give you feedback on your

performance. Ask them to be completely honest, hiding areas for

improvement are not going to help you. If there is something that

you do or say which needs improvement, you can correct it before

you get to the interview.



When you get to the interview, conduct your lesson exactly as

you would in a real classroom; your actions will show the

potential interviewers exactly why you are the right person for

the job. Ensure you show passion and enthusiasm.



Are you ready for the job interview? It will either make or

break your chances of a job offer. If you fail to plan… you

plan to fail. This is true and I have seen it happen to extremely

qualified educators. You don’t need to let the same thing happen to you.

So… get ready to ace the interview by clicking on the links below.



TEACHERS

http://resumes-for-teachers.com/Teachers-Interview-Edge.php

3 Word Phrases Make All the Difference in the World by Sheikh Sajid Javed

The Most Powerful 3 Words Phrases

Sheikh Sajid Javed, ACMA   APA


The following three-word phrases can enrich every relationship.

 These are just three little But Very Powerful words:

I'll Be There

If you have ever had to call a friend in the middle of the night, to take a sick child to hospital, or when your car has broken down some miles from home, you will know how good it feels to hear the phrase " I'll be there. " Being there for another person is the greatest gift we can give. When we're truly present for other people, important things happen to them & us. We are renewed in love and friendship. We are restored emotionally and spiritually. Being there is at the very core of civility.



I Miss You

Perhaps more marriages could be saved and strengthened if couples simply and sincerely say to each
other "I miss you." This powerful affirmation tells partners they are wanted, needed, desired and loved. Consider how ecstatic you would feel, if you received an unexpected phone call from your spouse in the middle of your workday, just to say "I miss you."



I Respect You / I Trust You

Respect and trust is another way of showing love. Its conveys the feeling that another person is a true equal. If you talk to your children as if they were adults you will strengthen the bonds and become close friends. This applies to all interpersonal relationships



Maybe You're Right

This phrase is highly effective in diffusing an argument and restoring frayed emotions. The flip side to "maybe you're right" is the humility of admitting maybe "I'm wrong". Let's face it. When you have a heated argument with someone, all you do is cement the other person's point of view. They, or you, will not change their stance and you run the risk of seriously damaging the relationship between you. Saying "maybe you're right" can open the door to further explore the subject, in which you may then have the opportunity to get your view across in a more rational manner.



Please Forgive Me

Many broken relationships could be restored and healed if people would admit their mistakes and ask for forgiveness. All of us are vulnerable to faults and failures. A man should never be ashamed to own up that he has been in the wrong, which is saying, in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday.



I Thank You

Gratitude is an exquisite form of courtesy. People who enjoy the companionship of good, close friends are those who don't take daily courtesies for granted. They are quick to thank their friends for their many expressions of kindness. On the other hand, people whose circle of friends is severely constricted often do not have the attitude of gratitude.



Count On Me

A friend is one who walks in when others walk out. Loyalty is an essential ingredient for true friendship; it is the emotional glue that bonds people. Those that are rich in their relationships tend to be steady and true friends. When troubles come, a good friend is there indicating "you can count on me."



Let Me Help

The best of friends see a need and try to fill it. When they spot a hurt they do what they can to heal it. Without being asked, they pitch in and help.



I Understand You

People become closer and enjoy each other more if they feel the other person accepts and understands them. Letting your spouse know in so many little ways that you understand them, is one of the most powerful tools for healing relationship . This applies to any relationship.



Go For It

We are all unique individuals. Don't try to get your friends to conform to your ideals. Support them in pursuing their interests, no matter how weird they seem to you. Everyone has dreams, dreams that are unique to that person only. Support and encourage your friends to follow their dreams. Tell them to "go for it."



I Love You

Perhaps the most important three words that you can say. Telling someone that you truly love them satisfies a person's deepest emotional needs. The need to belong, to feel appreciated and to be wanted. Your spouse, your children, your friends and you, all need to hear those three little words "I love you."


Patty De says:  All the way from Pakistant.....Thank you Sheikh!
   Let me tell you a little more about his background:

I am working as “Deputy Director Finance” in “Pearl Continental Hotel, Lahore” for the last 7+ years.
I  started my career in March 2002 as a “Payable officer” and then based on my performance and qualification I got 5 promotions in 1st 4 years which has given me immense in depth knowledge and experience of all related areas of Finance and Accounts.


“Pearl Continental Hotel” is the leading 5 star hotel in Pakistan and in the hotels’ top ranking it is considered as number 1 in Hotel Industry. “Pearl Continental Hotel” is owned and operated by the “Pakistan Services Limited” which has its’ registered office in Karachi and the group is known as “Hashoo Group” which has 43 big Subsidiary and Associated Companies in Pakistan and all over the world.

In Hotel line it has Pearl Continental Hotel in 7 cities (Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Muzaffarabad, Gawader, Faislabad) and “Marriott Hotel” in 2 cities (Karachi and Islamabad)

Never Underestimate the Power of Your Personal Presentation by Drs Neal and Jan Larsen Palmer

The Palmers can help you become more successful with clients, prospects, and colleagues!


They remind us that Over 90% of your communication is nonverbal (positive or negative).

They ask us,  

"What messages are YOU sending?"



If you're out looking for a job, meeting a client, or just wanting to make a better first impression with anyone, you're about to learn the “skinny” about what makes for a great handshake.

Get a Grip (but not too hard!):
The Anatomy of a Great Handshake


Of all the aspects of communication we inherit bad information about from our parents, relatives, and friends growing up, it's how to give a proper handshake. We don't shake hands with our parents. We may hug them, but we don't shake hands. And even if we did, most of them wouldn't know how to teach us anyway.

The proof is in the following common poor handshakes:

The “Bone-Crusher”
This is the most dangerous of all the handshakes. If you're on the receiving end, you feel like your hand is in a vise. It's usually accompanied by a vigorous pumping action. Not only does it hurt people in our own culture, but it's especially painful in cultures such as Hispanic, where handshakes are much lighter. It's also excruciating to anyone with arthritis or another condition of the hand. This one is definitely to be avoided.

The “Fingertip” Handshake
This is the handshake we get from childhood, when we obviously can't grip someone's hand very hard. Women get it from outdated social expectations, when they were expected to shake hands softly. Men can even get it from the “continental” practice of kissing a woman's fingers as part of the handshaking ritual. No matter the source, it conveys weakness, uncertainty, and affectation.

The “Wet Fish”
Universally disliked, this one looks just like it sounds: a floppy sloppy, often damp, attempt at a grasp that leaves the other person only guessing how to return the gesture. Along with conveying the feelings of the “Fingertip,” this one adds a kind of smarminess and even disdain. You wouldn't offer this handshake to your worst enemy!

Note: Speaking of dampness, some people have moister than normal hands. What to do, if this is you?
 Just discreetly carry a handkerchief and use it to dry your hands just before doing significant handshaking.

The “You Poor Thing”
Otherwise known as the “two-handed” handshake, this variety involves engaging one hand with the other person's hand, then placing the other hand on top, creating a comforting enclosure. Common at funerals, this handshake is meant as solace for the bereaved. In any other setting, it means “I want something more than just a business relationship with you.” While there's a good motive behind this handshake (being warmer, friendlier, and sympathetic), in business, avoid it at all costs.

The “I'm the boss, applesauce”
This one has the initiator grasp your hand then turn his or her hand over, pushing your hand underneath. This is a naked power gesture masquerading as friendliness. Another one to avoid.
The “I'm the boss, applesauce” has a variant frequent in politics, and is a favorite of our current President. A person starts to shake hands in the normal way, then grasps your lower or upper arm with his or her other hand. Just another way to assert control and dominance.

So much for the familiar poor handshakes. Now let's look at the anatomy of a great, warm handshake.

Start by aiming the web between your thumb and forefinger toward the other person's web


Then be sure to get the two webs contacting one another (sometimes we have to wiggle our hands a little to work our way into good contact).


Finally, gently press your bottom three fingers against the back of the other person's hand.

This handshake has several advantages over the others.
1. You get a good grip on the other person's hand, sending messages of confidence and strength.
2. You convey warmth with a “wrap-around” feel.
3. You easily adjust to handshakes from cultures that don't practice the typical American crusher handshake.
4. You avoid making people uncomfortable who have arthritis or other medical conditions in their hands.
5. You can shake more hands without getting tired. (Lyndon Johnson could have used this one. It was reported that his hands actually bled from shaking many hands in rapid succession.)

Try this handshake and you'll be blown away by how well it works!

Yours in good communication,

Jan and Neal Palmer
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
We've published a DVD of our classic presentation “BEYOND WORDS: Building Your Personal Credibility Through Nonverbal Communication.”

 In the spirit of this issue, we're suggesting this as a great help for anyone you might know who's now interviewing for a new position or a step up in their current organization.

This 1.5-hour seminar with PowerPoints was presented to a group of 60 CEOs of corporations in Southern California. We think you'll like it, and it could be of great help for building rapport and better relationships.
For those of you who have seen this presentation before, we hope it offers you a great refresher. For those of you who have been waiting for our most popular speech to come out on DVD, here it is!

It's available on our webstore at http://www.talk2cei.com/store/

Here’s our message on the back of the box:

Become more successful with clients, prospects, and colleagues!
Over 90% of your communication is nonverbal (positive or negative).
What messages are YOU sending?

What makes some people able to get their ideas enthusiastically accepted, while others are bypassed? Why are some people more believable than others? How do smart leaders gain people's confidence? The answer is...by harnessing the power of nonverbal communication! People in your business and professional life are far more influenced—positively or negatively—by how you communicate nonverbally than by the words you say. In this presentation, Dr. Janet Larsen Palmer and Dr. Neal Larsen Palmer, principals of Communication Excellence Institute and nationally known experts on nonverbal communication, share practical techniques you can use to stand, gesture, and reach out to others nonverbally for greater impact and persuasiveness.

You'll be excited to try out everything you learn in this highly interactive presentation.

The Palmers coach university presidents, lawyers, business leaders, expert witnesses, politicians, fund raisers, and motivational speakers to use their nonverbal communication to make the greatest persuasive impact.

If you'd like to order our DVD, please click this link to our web store:
http://www.talk2cei.com/store/

You can either enter your credit card information directly into our secure site,
or select “print and call” if you would prefer not to enter credit card information.

 Just call our office at 800-410-4CEI (4234).
Our staff will be happy to take your order over the phone.
 The cost of our DVD is $29.95 plus tax and shipping and handling.


Patty's Note:      Our firm utilized and recommended the team and the leaders at CEI many
times over the years.   We highly recommend them and feel that this is an extra ordinary value!

Mark Schoeff Jr. on Unemployment Benefits News

Congress, Obama Extend Benefits as Unemployment Rises


On a day that brought more bad news about the number of Americans searching for work, President Barack Obama signed a bill Friday,
November 6, that would extend unemployment benefits for up to 20 weeks.

The measure, which was approved unanimously in the Senate on November 4 and by a 403-12 in the House on November 5, would provide 14 additional weeks of unemployment checks to all jobless workers and six more weeks on top of that to people who live in states where the unemployment rate is greater than 8.5 percent.

The House passed a narrower version of the bill last month. It was held up in the Senate as the unemployment benefits were expanded and other provisions were added, such as business tax cuts and a renewal of a tax credit for homebuyers.

The additional unemployment benefits are financed by extending a surtax on employers through 2011.

The bill marks the third time that Congress has increased unemployment benefits since the recession started in December 2007. Previous legislation added up to 53 weeks of benefits to the normal 26 weeks.

But as the recession has endured, the safety net has frayed.
The National Employment Law Project in Washington estimates that
600,000 workers exhausted their unemployment benefits in September
and October and that 1.3 million will run out of support by the end
of the year.

The Economic Policy Institute says that more than one-third
of the 15.7 million jobless Americans have been out of work
for more than six months.

Obama enacted the legislation on a day when the government reported that the unemployment rate had reached 10.2 percent, its highest level in 26 years. He framed the measure as a way to boost the economy by increasing consumer spending.

“Although the extension will help over 1 million Americans, it won’t
just put money into the people’s pockets who are receiving the benefits,” Obama said in a statement in the White House Rose Garden. “Economists tell us that when these benefits are spent on food or clothing or rent, it actually strengthens our economy and creates new jobs.”

Lawmakers said the bill would help ease the pain and anxiety that the economy is inflicting on many of their constituents.

“We know that when an economy recovers, the unemployment rate is one of the last numbers to rebound,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, said in a November 4 statement. “So even as our economy begins to turn around, jobs are turning around slower, and it is our responsibility to ensure the out-of-work are not left out in the cold.”

Reid portrayed Republicans as having needlessly delayed the legislation before voting for it as a bloc this week. Senate Democrats and Republicans slowed down the original House bill as they enhanced the unemployment benefits and added the tax amendments.

—Mark Schoeff Jr.

Stay informed and connected. Get human resources news and HR features via Workforce Management's Twitter feed or RSS feeds for mobile devices and news readers.

Kay Stout on The "Practice" of Finding that Great New Job

Finding that Great New Job Takes Practice



Kay Stout
A noted Human Resources Consultant offers tips to help job-seekers practice their interview skills and sharpen their resumés.

 Anyone who wants to improve themselves or their position, be they football or piano players, must practice to reach their goal. And, if your goal is to find a new job, you should apply that same discipline to your employment search, according to Kay Stout, Executive Advisor, with Oklahoma Professional Search.



“In this competitive job market, the interview is more important than ever, since the employer won’t be able to actually see you performing the job,” Stout said. “You’re judged on your resumé and the impression you make during your interview so, just as you can sharpen your resumé, a little practice on your interviewing skills can help you advance in the hiring process.”



Stout suggests job seekers practice their interviewing skills with a business colleague, preferably someone who’s been in a hiring position. If the interview process makes you too nervous, consider a career advisor or career coach. “Just as we hire tutors to improve performance in school or personal trainers to enhance our fitness, a career coach is often the best way for a job seeker to perfect their interview skills and land their dream job.”



If a job hunter wants to practice on their own, there are a number of resources available, Stout noted. “If one wants to practice the answers to the most common interview questions, there are plenty of helpful tips and suggestions online and in a myriad of books. And don’t forget to research the company before the interview. Look at the company website, Google, and even the local newspaper’s business section.”



The final practice drill is perfecting the resumé. “Tailor your resumé to the job functions of the position,” Stout added. “With a solid set of interview skills, company knowledge, and a great resumé, your practice can lead to a perfect position for you!”



About Oklahoma Professional Search:

Oklahoma Professional Search has offices in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Okla., offering human resource consultation in the areas of career transition, outplacement, and executive search. The company is a member of The State Chamber, The Employer’s ERS Council, the Oklahoma Association of Personnel Consultants, and is accredited by the Better Business Bureau. For more information please visit www.oklahomaprofessionalsearch.com/

Kay Stout

Oklahoma Professional Search

Oklahoma City, OK 73112

kstout@okpsearch.com

http://www.oklahomaprofessionalsearch.com/

Nov 13, 2009 Writing Powerful Cover Letters by Wendy S. Enelow CCM

Use Your Power to Customize and Connect



Training Program:
 Writing Powerful Cover Letters & Thank-You Letters


Date: Friday, November 13, 2009 - 11 am to 1 pm Eastern (or listen to the audio recording after the event)

To Register: http://tinyurl.com/yk2f9mf

Writing cover letters and thank-you letters can be as challenging as writing resumes.
In fact, sometimes it is even more daunting. What can you write in a cover that hasn't
 been written before? How can you reiterate what you've said in the resume without
repeating the same language? What can you write in a thank-you letter that will guarantee
 your client will be called back for a second interview?



In this two-hour E-Summit, you'll learn how to write:

*Powerful ad-reply letters that differentiate your clients from the competition

*Effective cover letters that encourage recruiters to reach out to your clients

*Cold-call letters to top corporate executives that clearly position your clients as high-value candidates

*Networking letters that incite your clients' contacts to help them

*Unique email cover letters that encourage the reader to want more

*Innovative introductory sentences and paragraphs that truly distinguish your clients from other job seekers

*Meaty middle sections that convey the most essential information about your client as it relates to their current objectives

*Closing sentences and paragraphs that encourage action

*Thank-you letters that powerfully position your clients as the candidate of choice

Perhaps most importantly, you'll learn when different letter styles work best and why (bullet-style letters, paragraph-style letters, and T-style letters). You'll also receive more than 35 pages of handouts and sample letters!

We've made this program easy to access - all you need is a computer with an Internet connection!

*If you plan to attend the live event, you'll listen to the live audio portion through your computer so there's no long-distance telephone charges. There's a box to ask questions that we'll answer in real time. And, of course, you'll also get the audio recording link so that you can listen to the program again, as many times as you'd like.

*If you plan to listen to the audio recording after the event, you'll find the MP3 audio recording posted on our website. Just click and listen as often as you'd like.

*All of the handouts are already posted on the website link you'll receive in your confirmation email. Please visit the website and download the handouts so you're prepared to take notes when the class starts.

*If you're interested in other E-Summits on writing resumes for clients in Sales/Marketing, Technology, Finance, C-Level positions and more, click here: http://www.resumewritingacademy.com/esummit.php

That's it! Louise and I hope to "see" you in class on Friday. Again, the registration link is: http://tinyurl.com/yk2f9mf

Thank you!

Wendy

Wendy S. Enelow, CCM, MRW, JCTC, CPRW
Author, Trainer & Career Consultant
******************************
Co-Founder & Director - Resume Writing Academy www.resumewritingacademy.com
******************************
President - Enelow Enterprises, Inc.
www.wendyenelow.com (Bookstore)
******************************
Executive Director - Career Thought Leaders Consortium www.careerthoughtleaders.com www.careerthoughtleaders.com/conference
******************************

Elizabeth Warren, Congressional Oversight Panel on Tarp Video

Elizabeth Warren, head of the Congressional Oversight panel on TARP,
says that the bail-out was focused on rescuing 'the top of the system,
' and the everyday workers were considered less, reflected in the recent unemployment numbers.

Watch the Video by clicking on the link.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/33716495#33716495

12 Rules of Success by Robert T. Whipple, MBA

Rules of Success

Several years ago I generated a list of rules for success.
 It is important to write down a set of rules for yourself,
 just as it is to document your values. It gives you something
 to hang on to when there is too much confusion.

 Another  benefit of a list like this is that it helps other people
 know how you operate much quicker. I would review this list
 and my passion for each item whenever inheriting a new group.

The most important word that determines
 your success is “attitude” – how you react to what happens in your life. The magic learning here is that you control your attitude, therefore, you can control your success.


Engagement of people is the only way to business success.

Credibility allows freedom to manage in an “appropriate” way (which means if you are not credible, you will be micro-managed).

Build a “real” environment – maximize trust – This requires honesty and transparency.

Create winners – help people realize their dreams of success (which means, grow other leaders).

Recognize and reward results at all levels (reinforcement governs performance).

Operate ahead of the power curve (which means, be organized and get things done well ahead of the deadline).

Don’t get mired down in bureaucratic mumbo jumbo, negotiate the best position possible, out flank the Sahara. However, feed the animal when necessary (which means pick your political battles carefully).

Enjoy the ride – when it is no longer fun – leave.

Admit when you are wrong and do it with great delight. Beg people to let you know when you sap them and thank them for it (which means Reinforce Candor).

Provide “real” reinforcement that is perceived as reinforcing by the receiver. Build an environment of reinforcement.

Keep trying and never give up. You will succeed.




There are many other things that could be mentioned, but if you can master the things above, most other things become subcategories of them. For example, another bullet might be "Treat people as adults and always demonstrate respect." That is really a sub item of the second bullet. Or another bullet might be "Always walk your talk." That is one thing (among many) you need to do for bullet four to happen. I believe every leader should have a documented set of beliefs such as the one above. I am not advocating that you adopt my list. Think about it and develop your own list. Don’t worry about being complete, just start an electronic file and add to it over the years as you grow and encounter new ideas. You will be amazed how this simple task enables you to operate with congruence and grow in your leadership skill.

The preceding information was adapted from the book Leading with Trust is like Sailing Downwind, by Robert Whipple. It is available on http://www.leadergrow.com./

Robert Whipple is also the author of The TRUST Factor: Advanced Leadership for Professionals and, Understanding E-Body Language: Building Trust Online. Bob consults and speaks on these and other leadership topics. He is CEO of Leadergrow Inc. a company dedicated to growing leaders.


© Leadergrow

David Harder Asks, Is it the End of the Road for the JOB?

Is it the end of the road for the job?

 We really believe it's a good to start preparing for it.
 In 1970, Alvin Toffler wrote the groundbreaking book, "Future Shock."
 In it, he talked about how technology would so transform the workplace that one day, we'd look back a hundred years and feel badly for those poor people that felt jobs were the best way to work and make a living. He described how, "Future shock is also the shattering stress and disorientation that we induce in individuals by subjecting them to too much change in too short a time."



In the early 80's, I was selling temporary help to companies in Downtown Los Angeles. We were no longer selling the scenario of replacing the secretary on vacation. We were telling companies they were overstaffed. "Cut back to the bare bones. When your workload increases, bring in temps to help meet your targets."



In September, 1994, Fortune Magazine stunned the business world with the words, "The End of the Job as a way of organizing work, it is a social artifact that has outlived its usefulness. Its demise confronts everyone with unfamiliar risks -- and rich opportunities. We used to read predictions that by 2000 everyone would work 30-hour weeks and the rest would be leisure. But as we approached the mini-recession of 2000 more of us were working 60 hour weeks and the rest were unemployed. Now, in 2009, it is clear that as the economy improves jobs will continue to disappear. Many will look for someone to blame.

We can make it a little more simple if we place a very large "RIP" over the industrial revolution.
 We've been crying over the broken employment agreement now for over twenty years.
Get over it! It's getting moldy!



Last year, a client asked me to give a final screening to a very senior executive. The CEO walked in as I asked the last question, "What is the biggest professional mistake you made and what did you learn from it?" The CEO asked me, "How would you have answered the question?" I said, "The biggest mistake I ever made was to take a job." "Expert" brings so much baggage with it, but after twenty years of facilitating thousands of people, I've accumulated a little knowledge. I believe we are headed back to becoming a "merchant & cobbler" society but this time we're armed with technology connecting us to work and to acquire sales opportunities - often in just minutes.



Today, one of the most often questions asked on Google is, "When will jobs return?"   and the most common answer, "Never."

Are people like me to blame? No. Those of us that allow our fear to scare us away from learning the very skills that would give us options - - they are not to blame but they sure will be in trouble.


Want to become resilient?
Take a course that changes your conditioning and beliefs.

Want to make a living? Instead of sitting at home waiting for the phone to ring or working for that crummy job that you outgrew years ago, learn some important life skills:



1. Take as much as sales training as possible. Hours each week if you can swing it. Learn how to sell anything.



2. Join Toastmasters and learn how to speak to people rather than yelling at them about their quotas and to cut more expenses.



3. Become a sophisticated social networker capable of getting any information you need to become successful. We are proud of our presence at Facebook - brings us more business every month! It's DavidWilliamHarder and we have an Inspired Work Alumni Group. We are now designing a curriculum on how to build a multi-national company on Facebook without spending a cent.



4. Take something within that you love doing and find a way to make a living with it. Darn, it will always include selling.



5. Build a new community around you filled with skilled advisors, supporters and reliable sources of information. Jack Canfield said, "You are the average of the five people you share the most time with." When I head that I had to get an immediate massage.



5. Draw as much positive attention to you as possible. Take an acting class. Most people draw only enough attention to themselves so they won't starve. The highly successful get attention all the time and even better? They give it; Giving high quality attention is the very foundation of charisma.



Fifteen years after I left, my last boss was very hurt when I told her taking a job was a mistake. She is an extraordinary soul and I worked for the best. But I could already feel the writing on the wall and I didn't like taking orders.

 In front of us is an opportunity. Those who get there first will win.

 Take the months ahead and learn how to sell what you love and what you enjoy.
 Take advantage of the opportunities in front of the changes, don't focus on running from the change itself. One of the best quotes from Alvin Toffler: "Change is not merely necessary to life - it is life."

All the best,

David Harder

________________________________________________________________________________________


THE INSPIRED WORK PROGRAM



How much would your life improve if you loved your work? How would that happiness improve your personal life? If you have children, what kind of role model would you become?



Over 80% of American Workers don't like what they do for a living. Inspired Work participants, over the course of 19 years indicate the opposite: Over 80% of our graduates love their work.



For two days, we engage the heart, mind and soul of each participant in finding practical solutions for being happy with their work, financially successful, fulfilled and in leading lives of meaning. We have found the structure that leads any work, from any way of life, to full success.



Over 35,000 graduates have proven the program works. We promise you will walk out of the program with a renewed, reinvented, exciting and successful new journey with your work and hence, your life.



"I took your program in 2005. At that session, I decided to start a business focused on how to manage talent. I launched the company in June and with my business partner wrote the book that makes our case, "Enlightenment Incorporated - Creating Companies our Kids Would be Proud to Work For.



_________________________________________________________________________________________________________



THE DATES: Friday & Saturday, November 6 & 7 at the Luxe Summit (Los Angeles)



Friday & Saturday, December 4 & 5 at Media Training Worldwide's training facilities (Manhattan)

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________



THE INTERVIEW WITH DAVID HARDER:



Jess Todfeld interviews David Harder to discuss why this program is so effective, how it was developed and how it transforms workers.



Click Here: http://www.vimeo.com/6909887

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Watch David on "Million Dollar Listing" with Bravo TV - Monday at 10 p.m.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________





INSPIRED PRESENTATIONS



The one common skill that is common amongst people who are wildly successful, is in their ability to move people and create action through the spoken word. Now you can quickly and easily learn the secrets of those who are leaders, those who know how to motivate, those who seem to rise up in their field. While doing it, you'll learn how to become more comfortable, confident, quick on your feet, free of "ums" and "ahs."



We have arranged to have Media Training Worldwide, the #1 media and presentation skills training company, offer their top of the line program to our clients in November. They will be coming to Los Angeles to deliver this one-day signature programs (back to back with their Media Training program.) This one day programs are vastly superior to most two-day events. This is accomplished through a revolutionary curriculum, skilled facilitators, continuous engagement, and 1 year of follow-up services (no extra charge) to keep your skills improving instead of diminishing.



During the course of the day, you will learn how to be completely comfortable speaking and presenting to others. This will not be a day-long lecture. You will be able to practice these techniques numerous times during the day. Through the use of video playback, you will be able to make the adjustments necessary to leave with a new set of skills. While the idea of being videotaped or practicing with others might provoke discomfort, consider what will happen to your life if you traded in that fear for confidence. This is confidence to make that presentation that could lead to your promotion, confidence to turn your new book into a bestseller, confidence to promote your business to hundreds at a time rather than one at a time.



The one day Inspired Presentations Program gives you the opportunity to learn a great deal with minimal time and economic investment.



THE DATE: Friday, November 20 at the beautiful Luxe Summit Hotel (Los Angeles)



Media Training – For TV, Print, Radio & the Web



Shine in your next media appearance and...

Get the quotes you want - in tomorrow's news!



Speaking to the media is a much different skill than public speaking. The media can slice and dice anything you say. How do you gain CONTROL during an interview and get the exact messages you want into the piece? Media Training Worldwide, has specific systems to teach proper body language, messaging, answer techniques, and sound bite creation.



This 1-day special program will go far beyond the traditional lecture. Everyone in the class will put the techniques into practice right away. Each participant will practice on-camera a minimum of 8 times. In this safe learning environment, you will have the chance to get better and better each time you practice. The average person may take a year or more to give 8 interviews. Imagine waiting a year to be able to build on what you learned? That would be disastrous. We don’t want that. We want you to leave this interactive workshop with a brand new set of skills.



This workshop has a long track record of improving confidence, helping people to look calmer, more comfortable, be in control of their words or messages. You’ll end this day being able to speak in sound bites but never have someone accuse you or spot that you’ve been trained.



This one day Media Training program gives you the opportunity to learn a great deal with minimal time and economic investment.



THE DATE: Saturday, November 21 at the beautiful Luxe Summit Hotel (Los Angeles)



ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS AVAILABLE IN NEW YORK BY MEDIA TRAINING WORLDWIDE:



November Six (Media Skills)

November Twelve & Thirteen (Advance Media Skills)

December Seven & Eight (Public Speaking)

December Ten & Eleven (Public Speaking)

December Twelve & Thirteen (Public Speaking



 david@inspiredworkservices.com



http://www.inspiredworkservices.com/

Writers Wanted!

Katheryn Greenaway is writing a book and she would love to have some of your wisdom
if you wish to be a contributor.

---------------------------------------------



Having clocked my 40th revolution around the sun, it is time to move ideas out of my head and into the world. I quit my job and am putting all my energy into collaborating in the creation of goods which have a positive impact.



The first project is to gather authentic experiences to create an inspirational anthology of collective wisdom, an offering of guidance for the dads of tomorrow in the care of their daughters.



Literature has the power to transform the way we see ourselves, the world, and our place in it.*



Women writers, ages one to one hundred, are sought to share a real life account of how their father has shaped their life.



Details are located at www.daughterstory.blogspot.com

.

****DEADLINE is November 15, 2009****



Would you please help me make this dream into a reality?



I invite you to please share this request with all the women in your life.

Black Swans in YOUR Future? Elfren Sicangco Cruz on Risk Management

By Elfren Sicangco Cruz

New world of risk management

In the new world of enterprise risk management (ERM), the term "Black Swans" refers to unlikely but potentially devastating risks that should merit, but often do not receive, board-level attention like the closure of Lehman Brothers, the AIG meltdown, and the Madoff-scale frauds.

It is true that low probability, high-impact events are almost impossible to predict. In fact, none of the forecasting models, think tanks, and business forums predicted the depth of the current financial meltdown in the West and the global economic recession.

However, this economic crisis has made it more important to reduce the impact on the business firm of threats we don’t understand. According to Taleb, Goldstein, and Spitznage in a recent Harvard Business Review article:
"Because of the Internet and globalization, the world has become a complex system, made up of a tangled web of relationships and other interdependent factors. Complexity not only increases the incidence of Black Swan events but also makes forecasting even ordinary events impossible. All we can predict is that companies that ignore Black Swan events will go under.


"Instead of trying to anticipate low-probability, high-impact events, we should reduce our vulnerability to them. Risk management, we believe, should be about lessening the impact of what we don’t understand — not a futile attempt to develop sophisticated techniques and stories that perpetuate illusions of being able to understand and predict the social and economic environment."


Lapses in ERM have resulted in significant losses and even bankruptcies for companies in different industries and countries all over the world. Among them are toy factories in China, software companies in India, investment banks in the United States, and commercial banks in Finland and the UK.


For the still uninformed, the traditional definition of enterprise risk management, sometimes referred to as integrated risk management, is as follows: "A comprehensive and integrated framework for managing credit risk, market risk, operational risk, economic capital and risk transfers in order to maximize firm value."(Lam)
James Lam, in his book Enterprise Risk Management: From Incentives to Controls, published in 2003, five years before the ongoing global economic crisis, identified what he called seven "key lessons" for risk management:


Know your business.



Establish checks and balances.



Set limits and boundaries.



* Keep your eye on the cash.



Use the right yardstick.



Pay for the performance you want.



Balance the yin and yang.


In ERM, the hard side (yin) focuses on processes, systems, and reporting. The soft side (yang) focuses on the people, skills, culture, values, and incentives.

While risks come in all shapes and sizes, risk professionals generally recognize three major types. Operational risk is the risk that people, processes, or systems will fail or that an external event (e.g., earthquake, fire, floods) will negatively impact the company. Market risk is the risk that prices will move in a way that has negative consequences for a company. Credit risk is the risk that a customer, counterparty, or supplier will fail to meet its obligations.
Other types of risks have also been suggested. Business risk is the risk that future operating results may not meet its expectations. Organizational risk is the risk that arises from a badly designed organizational structure or lack of sufficient human resources. Also cultural risks and reputational risks are viewed either as part of operational risks or as separate forms of risks.

Now in the midst of the ongoing global crisis, Taleb, Goldstein, and Spitznagel have written what could be a new framework for risk management. The article’s title is "The Six Mistakes Executives Make in Risk Management." According to them these are:

1. We think we can manage risk by predicting extreme events. One, we have an abysmal record of predicting Black Swan events. Two, by focusing our attention on a few extreme scenarios, we neglect other possibilities. In the process we become more vulnerable.

2. We are convinced that studying the past will help us manage the risk. You often hear risk managers use the excuse "This is unprecedented." They assume that if they try hard enough, they can find precedents for anything and predict everything. But Black Swan events don’t have precedents. In addition, today’s world does not resemble the past.

3. Recommendations of the "don’t" kind are usually more robust than "dos." Positive advice is the province of the charlatan. The business sections in bookstores are full of "success stories." There are far fewer tomes about failure.
4. We assume that risk can be measured by standard deviation. Used extensively in finance as a measure of investment risk, standard deviation should not be used in risk management.... Anyone looking for a single number to represent risk is inviting disaster.
5. We don’t appreciate that what’s mathematically equivalent isn’t psychologically so. Providing a best-case scenario usually increases the appetite for risk. Always look for different ways in which risk can be presented to ensure that you aren’t being taken in by the framing of the math.
6. We are taught that efficiency and maximizing the shareholder value don’t tolerate redundancy. In companies, redundancy consists of apparent inefficiency: idle capacities, unused parts, and money that isn’t put to work. The opposite is leverage , which we are taught is good. It isn’t; debt makes companies — and the economic system — fragile. If you are highly leveraged, you could go under if your company misses a sales forecast, interest rates change or other risks crop up.


Time will tell whether there will indeed be a new ERM framework. In the meantime, for general managers and risk managers, welcome to the new world of risk management which is increasingly becoming dominated by Black Swans.

Elfren S. Cruz is a professor of Strategic Management at the Ramon V. del Rosario Sr. Graduate School of Business, College of Business & Economics, De La Salle University. E-mail comments to elfrencruz@gmail.com

Executives Need Media Skills Today, Jeannette Paladino

Winning Media Interviews,
Part I: Ten Most Common Mistakes in Dealing With the Media

 

More than ever before, executives are being called on to represent their organizations in backgrounders, briefings and interviews with reporters from the print, broadcast and online media. These discussions offer an excellent opportunity to tell a positive story about the organization and its products and services.

Every discussion is different depending on the length, format, reporter’s style and whether he or she is working for a print publication, radio/TV station or online media outlet. A reporter with a monthly magazine generally will have the time to explore a subject more thoroughly than an on-air TV reporter who, more often than not, is simply seeking a juicy “sound bite.” With the advent of the Internet, the news cycle is now 24/7 and an executive may be called at any time of the day or night for a quote.

 

In every case, executives increase their chances of being included in a story by using techniques regarding form and content that can be learned and practiced and avoiding these common mistakes:

1. Replying “No Comment.” No comment translates to “guilty as charged.” The reply is used most frequently when the responder has bad news. You are under no obligation to give out information that would be damaging to you or your company. However, a response like “I can’t discuss the matter at this time, because of SEC regulations” accomplishes the same thing.

2.   Not Being Prepared. You need to have your facts and figures at your fingertips prior to the interview.

3.   Repeating a Negative. Your response: “Yes, earnings are down, but we made a capital investment of $50 in the quarter to expand our production capacity to meet consumer demand.” What is written: “Yes, earnings are down.” Some notable quotes: President Richard Nixon: “ I want the American people to know their President is not a crook.” Jessica Hahn: “I am not a bimbo.” Bank regulator: “We were not asleep at the switch.”

4.  Being Late to an Interview. Reporters are on tight schedules. If you are late (either by phone, in person, or online), besides irritating the reporter, you reduce your chances of getting in all your key messages. Being late to a live television interview is fatal to the relationship.

5. Restricting Your Answer to the Question. You don’t have to narrowly respond to a question with a “yes” or “no.” Use the opportunity to “bridge” from the question to offer information that will broaden the reporter’s understanding and knowledge of your company and its offerings.

6.  Ignoring the Question. You must acknowledge the question, but you can say, “It’s not a simple yes or no, but let me tell you about how our company is addressing this is important public policy issue.”

7.  Not Returning Phone Calls or Emails. This is a cardinal sin, especially if a reporter is on deadline. Return all phone calls and emails (and text messages) as soon as possible, even if you know you’ll be asked questions you’d rather avoid. Otherwise, you’ll find reporters not returning your phone calls or emails.

8.   Using Jargon. Not every reporter is knowledgeable about your industry and its acronyms. Use language in terms that are understandable to a layman.

9.    Lying. Never lie to the press. They can always find out the truth from another source or by searching the Internet.

10.   Dribbling Out Bad News. The cardinal rule is to get all the bad information out at once. Do not dribble out morsels one at a time as this is guaranteed to keep the bad news in front of the public until all the bad news is out — and it will come out.

By:
Jeannette Paladino

Business Writer helping companies to be more effective in selling their ideas through clear, compelling language.Greater New York City Area
Principal & Founder at Write Speak Sell

Timely Tips for College Students You are a Beautiful Work in Progress!

You are a gorgeous Work In Progress... did you know that?      Think about the end result you wish to create and think about the experiences you wish to have along the way. You CAN make them happen.

There are many things you can do to increase the chances of finding a job with a good company once you graduate.   The ideas and actions that you start rolling now will be of help to you as you advance your network, your skills and your knowledge base.  Some college students feel great frustration, almost in a
"Catch 22" since they may not have work experience and all the jobs appear to ask for some sort of work experience.   How are you supposed to get work experience if no one will give you that first job?

Yikes..... this can be frustrating until you understand that you can create some of your own great job experiences and future references by your volunteering and community activities.   Get smart about using volunteer opportunities to serve not only your community, your hoby or social interests but also your career.   Start Volunteering for strategic opportunities with people and projects that will give you related experience or contacts!



Here are  more tips on what to do to increase your chances of  getting called back on interviews and landing offers:


(1) Work or intern for a company in an industry related to your area of interest / college major

You can gain work experience in college either through jobs or internships. Internships are great because they allow you to try out different work environments and types of work so you have a good idea of the type of job you want to obtain once you graduate. The relevant work experience you gain through internships or volunteer opportunities will give you something to put on your resume and will make you more of an asset to a company compared to other graduates who may have great GPAs but lack work experience. Ideally, the company you intern for will offer you a job once you graduate, if not your supervisor will at least serve as a good reference. While it may be tempting to make more money bar-tending or in a retail job, participating in unpaid or low paid jobs/internships gives you relevant work experience which is the key to finding a job once you graduate. It is much better to be an intern when you are a college student instead of interning once you graduate because you can’t find a decent job due to lack of relevant work experience.



(2) Get involved in leadership roles in college clubs/organizations

Build your skills and contacts by being involved.  "Act like a HOST, not like a guest" is what noted career coach, Dr. Adele Scheele tells people in her books, Making College Pay Off and   Skills for Success.
You should also get involved in leadership roles in clubs and organizations on campus. Companies like to see that you have developed leadership skills in college so these experiences will definitely be something you can include on your resume.



(3) Utilize your college career center to find jobs/internships and to practice interviews



Your college career center has many resources to offer. Not only do they assist you in finding jobs and internships both while you are in school and once you graduate, but they also will conduct practice job interviews . This will help you feel more comfortable and know what to expect when you go in for an actual job interview. Often expert resources come and make presentations or make themselves available for mentoring of students.  Take advantage of this practice and of this chance to build your network.



(4) Attend college career fairs


Please  attend career fairs when your school hosts them.  You will expand your network and you will have the opportunity to speak with companies who are hiring new grads in your area.    This is a great start to getting your resume out there for your job search and a chance to get in person feedback and meet referral sources.

 
 
No one can truly predict when the economy will turn around but YOU CAN create more and better opportunities for yourself by making some strategic decisions about your volunteer and intern work.   Each professional connection can open doors for you later in life.
   Best of luck to you 

  Patty De

Cassandra Lee on Improving Your Efficiency & Effectiveness

Following are the four organizational techniques that will help you to elevate your level of efficiency in your workplace or business environment:




ORGANIZATIONAL TECHNIQUE #1:

File to find information quickly means that you will categorize your files by subject (e.g. vendor, project) to find the information you need fast. It doesn’t matter if you are organizing file folders or e-mail folders, it is important to categorize your folders appropriately so that you can file and find information quickly. Of course, following the rules for alphabetizing and even using color-coded files will help you to clearly delineate one file from the next so that you can find the information you need when you need it.



ORGANIZATIONAL TECHNIQUE #2:

Use a 31-day tickler file to manage your tasks, assignments and projects. A 31-day tickler file will help you to see more distinctively your upcoming deadline dates. It is a physical, visual reminder that will keep you on schedule to meet your upcoming deadlines. Whether you use a brown accordion folder with 12 file folders for the months and 31 file folders for the days of the month or a 1-31 file sorter, using a 31-day tickler file will keep in plain sight the tasks, assignments and projects that you must put your attention to immediately.



ORGANIZATIONAL TECHNIQUE #3:

Work from a clean desk gives you a clutter-free space in which to work and think. Yes, I know there are some of you who like the “organized chaos” method because having the piles and stacks of disarray make you – in your opinion – work more productively. Yet, try to clear an open space for yourself in which to focus solely on the task at hand. Don’t just make it a clean desk, make the surrounding work space (i.e. space in which you will need to maneuver to place your documents, retrieve your files, use your stapler, and get paper clips) clean, as well. Removing the clutter and working from a clean desk will enhance your ability to think more clearly, logically and strategically; thereby improving your efficiency.



ORGANIZATIONAL TECHNIQUE #4:

Complete most important tasks first to increase your productivity in your day. Creating a to-do list of what must be done in your day will give you a snapshot of where you must put your time, energy and effort in your day. But what are the really most important tasks that you must accomplish in your day? Ask yourself, “What must I make certain I get done before I leave the office today?” The answers to this question will highlight for you those tasks that are most important and should be the tasks you spend the time and effort completing first. Once you have the most important tasks accomplished, you’ll be able to put your energy and effort into completing the other tasks on your list.



In short, the four tips provided in this article are provided as a way to help you enhance and elevate your organizational skills so that you can increase your level of efficiency for your company or entrepreneurial endeavors. Try them out and see how your efficiency improves.

Cassandra Lee Operates
SSANEE Training & Consulting Group

Chicago, Illinois

877-907-2892

http://www.ssanee.com/    http://www.divaofdialog.com/

http://www.divaofdialog.blogspot.com/

Dave Nelsen of Vistage With Tips on Social Media

Ten Dos and Don'ts of Social Media




By Vistage Speaker David Nelsen


Social media and social networking are quickly becoming “de rigueur” for business.
A recent study by a Chicago-based firm, Slack Barshinger, showed that small and
medium-size businesses are getting “heavily involved with social media, with about
half using blogs, wikis, Twitter or other social media channels for business purposes.”
 If your company is not yet engaged, it’s time to jump in before your competitors beat
you to the punch.



If you’re not familiar with social media, check out YouTube, Twitter, TalkShoe,
 or any blog--these publishing and broadcasting democracies involve hundreds of
 millions of people. While most of these services were originally conceived for consumers,
social media allows businesses to engage in many-to-many conversations with customers,
 accelerating their learning and building trust. This is not your father’s marketing.



Here are ten basic rules for what to do and not do:



DON’T


1.Don’t get started if you have significant product weaknesses or customer support issues. Engaging in social media makes good products more successful, and bad products… dead. But don’t delay for long; address the issues and then jump in.



2.Don’t use social media to overtly market or sell. Instead educate, enlighten, inform, and entertain your audience. In this way, you’ll position yourself and your company as an expert in your field and benefit from the “media halo.”



3.Don’t “set it and forget it.” This makes you look worse than not showing up at all. Once you get started, sustain your participation and interaction.



4.Don’t go negative. Emphasize your strengths and advantages rather than making claims about a competitor’s weakness.



5.Don’t mix personal and business accounts/personas, etc.



6.Don’t expect to fully control the conversation. Social media is not an advertisement, product brochure, newsletter, email blast, or one-way monologue; it’s a conversation. Conversations are bi-directional and can have rough edges. Even if you don’t want to participate, your customers and prospects are already talking. Join them.



7.Don’t worry about some negativity for online users. Studies show that a little negativity increases credibility and empathy. Paraphrasing Abraham Lincoln: “You can’t please all of the people all of the time.” Be responsive to the negative.



8.Don’t feel the need to disclose everything. Not everyone who likes sausage wants to see exactly how it’s made. Be open and honest and use discretion.



9.Don’t be a generalist. With literally hundreds of millions of blogs, videos and podcasts to choose from, every individual can precisely tailor their consumption to their interests. Focus on one topic and do it well (the narrower the better).



10.Don’t overwhelm your followers with too much information, or too frequently. Everybody’s got a busy life and nobody enjoys getting “Twitter-ria”. Focus on the highest value information and content.

DO



1.Do the same up-front planning you would for any important business initiative. Define your target audience. Detail how you intend to create value for them. Map out how you expect them to create value for you. Document your approach and objectives per medium (blog, Twitter, Facebook, etc.).



2.Listen and learn from others for a few weeks before responding. In general, spend twice as much time listening as responding.



3.Display your Personality, and keep the content Interesting and Entertaining (the old radio adage “PIE”). Remember, people buy from people; show your professional self.



4.Be authentic. Never before has a medium and its participants been more skilled at smelling a rat and turning against the perpetrator.



5.Remember that social media is about two-way conversation (see “Don’t try to control” above). Conversation builds trust; trust leads to more sales.



6.Favor timeless content over time-sensitive content (note: this varies based on the medium and there are exceptions). We live in a time-shifted “Tivo” world and there’s wonderful leverage in creating a blog post (for example) that will have value to new readers weeks, months, or even years from now.



7.Remember that “push” is out and “pull” is in. Direct mail, traditional advertising, and unsolicited email are forms of “push” -- the content producer chooses who to target. “Following” on Twitter, “subscribing” to a blog or podcast, or viewing a video your friends “liked” on Facebook are forms of “pull” -- the content consumer decides what to listen to. In today’s information-rich world, people want to opt-in, choosing where to spend their valuable time. Give them a reason to choose your content.



8.Keep your eyes open. Use Google Alerts, search.twitter.com, relevant Linkedin Groups, Ning networks, and other sites to monitor or “listen in” on conversations about your company, your competitors, and the best practices in your industry.



9.Show patience. As the party with more power (a business relative to a customer/prospect), attacking or being critical will frequently backfire and word will propagate quickly.



10.Learn from your audience (as they will learn from you). Be prepared to rapidly evolve your products and services to meet their needs. They’ll suggest valuable ideas you never thought of.

In the next few years, social media will become a primary vehicle for interacting with your customers, partners, suppliers, and even employees. By getting started today, your company can adapt to a changing world more quickly than your competitors. What are you waiting for?



Vistage member and speaker, Dave Nelsen helps companies develop social media strategies to improve their marketing, sales, customer support, and even internal communication. He’s the Founder of podcasting pioneer TalkShoe and a long-time entrepreneur.

 You can contact Dave at dave@get121.biz.

With more than 14,500 members, Vistage International is the world’s foremost chief executive leadership organization. Vistage’s Executive Leadership Program provides unparalleled access to new ideas and fresh thinking through monthly peer workshops, one-on-one business coaching, speaker presentations from hundreds of top industry experts, social networking and an extensive online content library of articles, best practices, podcasts and webinars.


Executive Leadership Program Powered by You

Today, Vistage International (TEC’s successor) and its global affiliates operate in 16 countries. Executive Leadership Program members meet in small groups every month under the same guiding principles—to help one another make better decisions, achieve better results, and enhance their lives. They’re also connecting in ways Nourse could never have imagined, collaborating online, tapping into a vast content library, and learning from hundreds of top industry speakers.


Vistage-member companies generate nearly $300 billion in annual revenue and employ approximately 1.8 million employees around the world. Studies have shown that Vistage-member companies outperform their competitors and, on average, grow their revenues at three times the percentage growth rate after joining Vistage.



Patty's note:



TEC now called Vistage was instrumental in my entrepreneurial growth from 1986 on.



For more info about Vistage please visit their wesbite at http://www.vistage.com/

Al Walsh, Back by Popular Demand......... Speak up!

Speak UP!   by Al Walsh

Mindy Gibbins-Klein posted a blog on Ecademy regarding her desire
 to see women take a stronger role in the public speaking world, and
 asked for my comment. I thought it might be useful to share my thoughts:




I’m forever encouraging people to take risks in order to develop their careers.
Had I not taken some risks in my career, I would not enjoy the extent of knowledge
and experience that I do today; nor would I have grown as rapidly. That is not to say
that we should take foolish gambles; but we don't want to be over-cautious either.

 This bit of advice particularly applies to women. Most women I've known in the business
 world tend to take the safe, conservative route. There’s safety in “blending into the herd”,
 but you’ll never enjoy the growth-benefits that can come with standing out and differentiating
yourself. Women need to take some more risks and throw themselves "in harm's way" now
and then. For instance, I've intentionally taken jobs that I knew had a limited "shelf-life" because
 I wanted experience with business startups, turnarounds, M&A, and other activities that I
wouldn't otherwise be exposed to. This required exposing myself to new experiences and having
 to develop new skills while "under fire". These experiences have been my best, for a variety of
 reasons. They are the experiences where most of my professional growth has occurred.
 They’re the experiences that have primarily shaped me as a business leader.

 Public speaking falls into the “taking risks” category.

Most people find it a bit awkward, and tend to shy away from it.
It's a learned skill that's best developed in the crucible of hard experience.
Women should look for speaking opportunities and hone their skills.

 Corporations always have “dirty little tasks” to be performed that the majority shy away from - such as internal training classes. Experiences like these provide the opportunity to sharpen one’s skills as a speaker.
I’ve volunteered to conduct many of them.

Take opportunities where you can.
They will sometimes come rapidly from strange directions.

Once, as a young exec for a new company, I joined a selling trip overseas to tout some new technology to government officials. As we approached the final minutes before our first presentation, it was announced to us that the prime minister of the country was present and had decided to sit in. Everyone panicked like “deer in the headlights”. After a pregnant pause, I volunteered to go first. The others were happy to “sacrifice me”. I stumbled over my tongue a bit at first, but soon warmed up to the subject and set the stage for the others. We wound up winning a contract. A week later, the same exact scenario happened in another country. Both leaders were very patient and gracious with me over my “thick tongue”.

You're going to make mistakes at first. Oh well, no big deal. Everyone does! Find "vacuums" to fill, take the risks, make your mistakes, learn from them - and grow. Stick your neck out a little more often.

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with the results. If no opportunities arise where you’re at - maybe it’s time to plan a move.

Al Walsh, CEO

Walsh Enterprises, Business and  Financial Advisors


Huntington Beach, Ca


http://www.awalsh.us/


More of Al's articles can be found at: http://walshal.wordpress.com/. I select sources who have displayed an amazing capacity for incisive analysis. I’ve been following them for years. They saw what was coming, and why. You won’t find this information in the boiler-plate press.

Your Attitude and Happiness are Critical Components of Your Success

Introducing
Happy for No Reason
personal learning course

Author of Happy for No Reason,

co-author of six Chicken Soup for the Soul books,

and featured in the The Secret DVD and book    http://www.marcishimoff.com/


WOW!

I had a chance to learn more about March Shimoff and her speaking and her best selling new book.  Marci is a celebrated speaker and she has a fabulous program which took extensive research and preparation to put together over years of experience.

Since your happiness is important to me, and since you attitude is an important predictor of your
success in your career and in your life.... I wanted to share this opportunity with you now.   Patty De

HAPPY FOR NO REASON!

This means that no matter what happens in your life -- no matter what stress plows
 into you -- no matter how dire the circumstances might turn -- you can AUTOMATICALLY
return to a higher level of happiness than you have today.


To be happier, everything you need is inside you — and the Happy for No Reason
 personal learning course gives you the simple instructions on how use it, so that you:

•Take ownership of your happiness. You’ll focus on solutions instead of problems, find the gifts in life, and make peace with yourself.

•Don’t believe everything your mind tells you. You’ll question the validity of your thoughts, let go of thoughts that don’t serve you, and incline your mind toward joy.

•Let love lead. You willl focus on gratitude, practice forgiveness, and spread lovingkindness. (This works as well in business as it does in your personal life.)

•Make the cells of your body happy. You will learn to nourish your body, energize your body, and tune into your body’s wisdom.

•Plug yourself into spirit. You will invite connection to your higher power, listen to your inner voice, and trust life’s unfolding.

•Live inspired by purpose. You will find your passion, follow the inspiration of the moment, and contribute to something greater than yourself.

•Cultivate nourishing relationships. You will learn how to tend to your relationships so that they grow, surround yourself with support, and see the world as your family.

These notable people have joined happiness expert, Marci Shimoff,
 on the recordings of this new course: Paul Scheele … Chunyi Lin …
 Jeddah Mali … Hale Dwoskin … John Assaraff … Jack Canfield …
 Lisa Nichols … Lynne Twist … John Gray.



In eight CDs and through 100 pages of the guidebook,
 you will learn practical, down-to-earth strategies based
on the new science of happiness that will help you experience
 happiness "from the inside out."



To make your happiness journey easier for you,
we’ve included a copy of the extraordinarily popular
Happy for No Reason Paraliminal that Marci created
with Paul Scheele in 2007.



This version of the Paraliminal, which works with your inner mind to be happy from
 the inside out, is encoded with Holosync audio technology provided by Centerpointe
 Research. Using Holosync creates new neural pathways between the left and right
brain hemispheres, balancing the brain, enhancing mental/emotional health, improving
mental functioning and self-awareness, and healing unresolved emotional issues, all to
 support raising your baseline of happiness.


You don’t have to have happy genes, win the lottery, lose 20 pounds, or become a saint.
 By the time you finish listening to the Happy for No Reason course you will be experiencing
 more happiness. Follow the steps, which help you adopt habits that most happy people have,
 and you will live in an authentic state of sustained happiness for the rest of your life.



Happy for No Reason CD Course $248.00

It's Risk Free! http://www.happyfornoreason.com/Products/Course

Build an Unshakable Inner Home for Happiness

http://www.happyfornoreason.com/Products/Course

Taming the TO DO List and Finding Depth in Everyday Life

One of my favorite, thoughtful authors is Abby Seixas
From time to time she offers classes and lectures and
 I always recommend them to people who seek more
 meaning in their busy lives.


The Deep River Within:

Taming the To-Do List and Finding Depth in Everyday Life

Abby is again offering her  7-week distance course for women in the art of slowing down.

Beneath the busyness of our daily lives flows a deep
 river of creativity, passion, silence, and a place of
contact with ourselves and what matters to us. Although “the deep river” is a powerful source of
 nurturance, the fragmentation and sheer pace of life in 21st century America often buries this deeper dimension under the perpetual-motion surface of our days.

This course is about slowing down.

Based on Abby’s highly acclaimed book,

 Finding the Deep River Within: A Woman’s Guide to Recovering Balance and Meaning in Everyday Life, and on her in-person seven-week groups, the course will introduce the three preliminary doorways and six core practices that can support us in allowing our own deeper currents to flow through daily life.

With the help of readings, experiential exercises, discussion, creative expression, humor, and each other, we will explore ways to free ourselves from the tyranny of our “To-Do’s”, and so to rest more in our deeper selves and in the gift of life itself.



Phone seminars will be: Mondays, Oct. 19–Dec. 7, 2009; 7:30-8:45 pm EST
 and Wednesdays, Oct. 21-Dec. 2; 7:30-8:00 pm EST. *

(No meetings the week of November 23rd)



Phone seminars will be recorded for course members only, to download if a meeting is missed.

In addition, there will be a participants-only website for posting comments, sharing and questions, and for accessing downloads of all supplemental materials.

Cost: $225 (you are responsible for your telephone carrier’s charges for the calls.)



TO REGISTER, click here. (This pilot course is limited to 8 participants)

QUESTIONS? Abby@deepriverwithin.com or (781) 647-4404





P.S. Also upcoming: an in-person 7-week group (begins Oct. 20); a one-day workshop (Nov. 7), and the Facilitator Training day (Nov. 8), all at the Women's Well, W. Concord, MA.



And...a day-long workshop in Falmouth Maine on Oct. 17th.