Monday, June 29, 2009

Today's Question: What's So Powerful About the Number 3?


We've all heard the expression, "It happens in threes." Many of the communications plans I develop have three objectives. In speaker training, I've learned to stick to three points and when developing key messages, we tend to develop three main thoughts. Why? Because it's memorable. Or is it?

In today's age of constant communications and connection, do we even remember three things anymore? It's almost as if evolution has started to decline. Our superior brains are being trained to process in 140 characters and communicate via smart text and wall posts.

Taking that one step further, the firing of our neurons (or the lack there of) is a result of the media. The 2-minute story package is replaced with the 10-second soundbite. In last week's unfortunate events, can you name the three celebrities that we lost? Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, and Ed MacMahon--for those of you playing at home. Yes, that's right, Ed MacMahon passed away too. According the media, we lost the King of Pop, that girl from the poster and that flat broke talk show sidekick.

For now, I'm going to try and adhere to the Power of 3: Happiness, Fortune and Fame. We'll see how well this works!

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Today's Question: Are You an Effective Leader?

"A leader is a dealer in hope."
-Napoleon Bonaparte



At times, Napoleon might have needed to be reminded of this fact, but don't we all? The measurement of a true leader should be in the innate ability to instill trust and hope in those you are leading. The other day I was quickly reminded that as a leader, it is my responsibility to do these things.



We all know the saying "S*(& rolls down hill." I'm here to say, that it shouldn't. A true leader knows that both the good and the bad are a direct reflection on how he/she leads the team. I made that mistake this week and informed my team that I got reamed for something that had happened while I was out of the office...WHAT WAS I THINKING?? This is not way effective leaders handle things; I did not need to bring my team down with me-but I did!



For the rest of the week, I received apology upon apology from them...and why? They did nothing wrong. Instead of addressing the situation directly and letting it go, I needed to talk about it. I wasn't being hopeful, I was being hopeless.



From one leader to another. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Be humble.

2. Offer guidance.

3. Share praise.

Hopefully, I will remember to follow my inner leader in the future!


Friday, June 12, 2009

Today's Question: Do I Have Enough Blog Cred to Repost an Old Blog?

Well, I might not be established enough, but I'm going to do it anyways. I've been meeting a lot of "social media" posers lately. After being engulfed in the world of Social Media, I no longer feel like a poser. I have a decent understanding of how businesses can and should use social media, I'm expanding my personal brand via social media, and I'm able to measure these results for clients and put them in terms that make sense--drive Web site traffic, increase awareness and ultimately, have a positive result on sales.

Posers, beware! There's a new social media enthusiast around!


Original Post March 2009:
I think I might be. I've been trying this blog for about a month, I try to Tweet nearly every day, I update my Facebook status, I accept Linked In invitations, I watch videos on YouTube (and have even downloaded some), I subscribe to RSS feeds, I download widgets, the list goes on and on--but I still kind of feel like I'm faking my way through it.


I feel this way because every time I turn around there are new social media "experts", "mavens", and "gurus"--it's quite humbling to think that I just recently added my blog (with 18 admitted followers) to Technorati--I'm nowhere near this coveted, self-proclaimed expert status. Heck, at my first job we didn't have the Internet...I guess Al Gore hadn't gotten around to inventing it. I would have to go to the library to look up old newspaper articles.





Because this form of communication is changing all of the time, maybe we are all posers or experts. The ability to share and connect with others is available for nearly everyone.





For now, I'll continue to post, update, download, share, connect and communicate--just try and stop me!