Getting Started on Twitter by Michelle Cullison
May 29, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Are you on Twitter? Are you tweeting? Who are you following? Have you been re-tweeted? How often do you get DMs?
These are the questions floating around business networking conversations these days. Newbies to social networking are nervous because Twitter is an unknown territory— a very strange one at that! Who speaks in 140 character snippets? It takes some getting used to. At first glance, it makes no sense. A glimpse at a home page on Twitter shows fragmented, one-sided conversations happening now. You may wonder, “How can this be useful?” But, with all the success stories on Twitter, many are considering a move to this unique new communication platform. How about you?
To get started, create a personal profile and connect with a few trusted people that you know in real life. Practice on each other. Post some updates to your profile. Ask a friend to @ message you. To @message is to reply publicly to a tweet (a status update on Twitter.) To reply privately or send a message privately is DM or Direct Message. Send your trusted friends a DM – a direct message (the Twitter version of email). Get your feet wet with this new tool. Don’t be afraid. Remember that EVERYONE is fairly new to this and even the “experts” will make a “mistake” every now and then.
When you sign up on Twitter, try to secure your first and last name as your username. This will help you establish your personal brand and build your personal online reputation. And, it is cheap (free) insurance to protect you from someone who may want to masquerade as you on Twitter. (If you have a business name, go ahead and create an account for your business also to secure the username even though you may not be ready to use it.
Getting started personally will familiarize you with the tools so that you can better understand how to use this tool for your greater business purposes.
Like most things in life, experience is the BEST teacher.
Feel free to post Twitter questions as comments to this post. Or, better yet, Follow me on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/mcullison and send me a DM!
Help!!! I’m Losing My Mind! by Ellen Martin
May 29, 2009 | Leave a Comment
We have all felt this way at some time or another. There is “stuff” everywhere and no hope in sight. Whether it’s paper piling up in your office or toys all over the living room, things can drive us crazy.
Decisions to get rid of things can be so difficult because many of us attach emotion to our things. It is an interesting phenomenon that we allow things to overcome us in this way. How inanimate objects take on such meaning that we almost feel the object may be hurt if we set it free.
To take back your life, you must relinquish the past. Clutter is often composed of past lives. You know…all of the supplies from that time you decided to learn cake decorating, or the old weight bench you bought 6 years ago and used once. These things are not only remnants of past lives, they also are sources of guilt.
When you look around your home or office and see remnants of projects started and never completed it is very emotionally draining. The first step to reclaiming your space is getting rid of all of those past lives.
Look at the present and decide what belongs here now. What serves you in your present life? You may have to deal with some emotional aspect of freeing yourself from the past, but how liberated you will feel once you have done it!
Ellen
Organizing Your Space. Simplifying Your Life.
www.organizationalexperts.com
It’s All about Connections by Myra Corrello, PhD
May 27, 2009 | 1 Comment
Do you ever find yourself trying to cram 3 weeks of work into 3 days?
Welcome to my world.
When I hop on the plane Friday morning, I’ll probably pass out from exhaustion. Until then, I can only say “thank you” to everyone in my life who has made these days doable.
I really don’t know how anyone can function without the support and collaboration from a professional network.
One business partner reminded me of a critical discount program that I hadn’t bothered to join that, today, is saving me substantial money on one project.
Another partner introduced me to a virtual assistant who seems to have no limits to her knowledge, her talents, and her ability to help you solve your problem – no matter how challenging. She’s now assisting me in bringing projects to fruition that have sat on the back-burner for years.
That VA introduced me to a graphic designer who has stayed up with me till the wee hours of the morning for the last 3 nights finishing more major projects.
Another colleague dropped by Monday with her new illustrator and before I knew it, they were rolling up their sleeves critiquing and revising every piece of my work in process – with remarkable results.
Last week, a professional speaker colleague shared a new publishing source that is, as we speak, helping me create my first magazine – to be delivered, amazingly, this Saturday. Three days turnaround. Unbelievable.
A conference exhibitor expert introduced me to her favorite print broker. Today, she’ll deliver 3 completed print projects that would have taken me months to coordinate and oversee on my own.
Whew! It makes me dizzy to think about the amount of work we all manage at any given time. Where would we be without those around us who seem to have the right answer, the right word, the right resource – when we need it?
Instead of being overwhelmed, I’m overwhelmingly grateful.
Who are your most valued professional resources? What areas of your work could benefit from someone to share a tip, lend a hand, give you a new perspective or connect you to another?
When you feel you’re drowning in a sea of work, don’t forget to ask for help. Be open to whatever comes your way and be gracious in accepting those gifts. You never know when you might be able to save someone else’s day.
Building Customer Loyalty By: Tiffanie Z. Lyon
May 26, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Keeping customers is more important than ever. As everybody knows, it’s a lot easier to keep and grow a customer than to go out and find a brand new one. So, here are some things you can do to build your customer relationships and their loyalty to you:
* Send your customers referrals and leads.
* Do business with your customers, when appropriate.
* Send your customers articles and information you think would be of interest to them.
* Send your customers a card thanking them for their business and on special occasion.
* Offer special discounts and incentives for customers only.
* Cross-sell other services that will benefit them.
* Host a customer appreciation event
* Profile your best customers on your website, e-zine and other venues
* Conduct a focus group, annual review and other customer-only sessions to get to know them better and get their input on new products/services.
Do you have some good ideas or tips for building customer loyalty? Please share!
The Power of Pushing Yourself
May 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Are you challenging yourself to go beyond your comfort zone? Often, we progress to a place where we feel that we are competent and confident, and then kick back and relax.
Now is no time for complacency! In tough economic times, your organization needs individuals who are proactive, adaptable, and who offer creative solutions to help the organization build and maintain a competitive edge. That likely means that you will have to push yourself beyond your comfort zone.
We recently enjoyed a ski vacation in New Mexico. A Louisiana bayou girl doesn’t get much practice skiing, but I managed to improve my technique – on the “green”, beginner slopes. However, I knew I needed to challenge myself to loftier goals.
In tackling the “blue” slopes, I experienced fear, reluctance, and a longing for the comfortable green slopes. I knew the beginner slopes would become boring, and besides, it’s embarrassing to have your kids swooshing past you! With persistence, I became more adept and confident. Soon, I was feeling a sense of exhilaration and pride as I, too, did my own version of swooshing down the mountain.
As a leader, you cannot afford to become complacent. Volunteer for new assignments. Seek out professional development opportunities. Think about stepping out of your comfort zone and really pushing yourself to achieve greater success and provide greater value to your organization.
Here’s to your success!
Jennifer
Personality and Productivity, by Ellen Martin
May 22, 2009 | Leave a Comment
You are sitting at your desk filled with anxiety and stress. You stare at the telephone knowing that eventually you have to pick it up and dial. You start to wonder why on Earth you agreed to take this sales position. You don’t like making these phone calls and you don’t like networking events. You are procrastinating to the point that you must make the calls now or risk losing your job.
Personality issues can affect an individual’s ability to perform certain tasks. When someone is physically mismatched for a job it’s very obvious. A 300 pound fellow would not be suited to the job of jockey. Unfortunately, it’s not so easy to identify personality traits that may impact a person’s suitability for a job or task. Matching employees, both current and potential, with appropriate jobs is a key factor in increasing productivity at work.
There is no right or wrong in personality traits. The most important thing is awareness. Once you are aware that you possess certain personality traits you are more equipped to make any necessary changes to compensate for any negative effects the trait may be causing.
Introverts generally are drained by social interaction. They will procrastinate on making sales calls and may avoid networking opportunities. Introverts are perfectly happy alone most of the time. Extroverts on the other hand derive great energy from social interaction and thrive in positions requiring this. They will happy make calls, attend social functions and don’t do well in situations which require they work in solitude for long periods.
A highly structured person in an environment that requires a high degree of spontaneity will probably not be successful. In the same way a very spontaneous person will not do well in a highly structured environment.
Great insight can be made into the affects that behavior traits have on your work and personal life. You may discover the cause of your procrastination or why you react in certain ways to certain situations. An assessment tool, such as DiSC, can be very helpful in creating awareness. Not only will you identify your own style, but when completed in a team environment communication among team members will be improved.
Ellen
Organizing Your Space. Simplifying Your Life.
www.organizationalexperts.com
Lessons from the life of Ursula Burns, the first African-American Woman CEO of a Fortune 500 Company
May 22, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Today on the front page of the Wall Street Journal, Ursula Burns is announced as the first African-American woman to lead a Fortune 500 company, Xerox, as CEO. Here are a few things I learned about Ursula from the article.
• “She has a reputation for pushing hard to make the company move faster and for making the company’s research labs focus more directly on products to help the bottom line.”
• Her predecessor says about her, “The decision to move on is made easy only in the fact that Ursula Burns is so well positioned to take Xerox to the next level.”
• Ms. Burns grew up in New York’s public housing, served Xerox first as an intern then obtained her Master’s degree in engineering.
Taking a quick look at this Succeeding Woman’s life inspired me! Ms. Burns grew up and out of a difficult situation. She positioned herself -and continues to do so – for success. She understands that movement creates momentum and pushes her company to move fast and focus on the essentials (one of which IS the bottom line.)
Consider these questions with me:
• How well-positioned am I for moving myself and my company to the next level? What changes could improve my position?
• What is my current focus? How does this focus effect the profits of my company? Should my focus shift to improve my company’s bottom line?
• Am I using my past experiences as stepping stones or roadblocks? Am I currently in a poor or dependent position? If so, what steps can I take to grow out of this position?
• Finally, how fast am I moving toward my business goals? What can I do to accelerate my career or the success of my company?
Ms. Burns will take the reins of leadership at Xerox on July 1 modeling for all women in business what is possible when we choose to grow, strategically position ourselves, move fast and focus. Whether you are developing a career, financial, relational or even a social media strategy, the lessons from Ursala’s life apply. Congratulations to Ursula Burns on leading the way for all women in business and to each Succeeding Women who has positioned herself to grow and has achieved her goals. Do you have a success story to share? We’d love to hear it at succeedingwomen.com.
Busting Barriers & Razing Roadblocks: Collaborate Your Way Back to Creativity by Myra Corrello, PhD
May 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Do you ever find yourself stalled on an important project? Do you put off starting an important task because you just can’t seem to get comfortable with your approach? Do you realize your closest friends and colleagues are probably struggling, too?
We are all blessed with unique strengths and weaknesses. Most projects require us to draw on elements from each. Hitting a weak part can sometimes be too much to overcome. We simply abandon our pursuit or defer further efforts – oftentimes at a big cost.
But there is a better way.
I’ve found a “barrier-buster” buddy. My BB buddy has complementary skills. She has a very comfortable working knowledge of new technologies. She is a guru at knowing every little hidden trick in popular software. She has already created a system and a template for everything. She even conquers administrative details with energy and confidence.
I DON’T know how to use the cool apps on my iPhone. I don’t know how to use Outlook to organize my whole communication system. I don’t have forms, procedures, or policies. And I live in fear of uncovering some administrative requirement that I’ve not completed.
The good news is my BB buddy needs my help, too. She appreciates my big-picture perspective when planning her next professional pursuit. She knows I’ll provide interesting pro-con viewpoints on any issue she encounters. If she’s struggling for a great phrase, I’m there.
Now, we meet weekly for a “barrier-busting” session. She brings in her help list and I bring in mine. We exchange to-dos and leave back on track and ready for the next phase of our projects.
It’s funny. Our roadblocks seem almost embarrassing – primarily because they’re normally very small. But to the one encountering it, the roadblock’s enough to bring them to a screeching halt. That’s big.
In just seconds, the barrier is normally busted and creative work can resume.
So how can you get started?
1. Find someone who has skills that complement yours.
2. Determine how you will gain mutual accessibility on an ongoing basis.
3. Begin keeping a “barriers” journal with you so you can document weekly challenges as they occur (identifying the exact barrier can sometimes be a real challenge otherwise).
4. Bring your barriers to meetings and determine how to use the session so that each of you walk away with the most critical work accomplished.
5. Consider preparing homework lists at the end of each session to hold each other accountable for moving forward on your projects once the barriers have been eliminated.
The next time you find yourself stuck on a project, think about how a barrier-buster buddy just might be your answer.
Everybody Has Sales-Influence By Tiffanie Z. Lyon, MBA
May 19, 2009 | Leave a Comment
It’s important to understand that everybody in your organization touches the sales process- from the first telephone inquiry to the signed paperwork. All “sales” have a sales process (which you may have read in our my other posts) and it’s best to have your team positively influence that process. First impressions can be powerful. How does your receptionist answer the telephone on behalf of your organization? Who puts together information packets to be sent out? Do they look like they’ve been assembled with care? How do you position your company to your prospective customers? Here are a few tips:
• Educate your team on your company’s sales process and discuss where everybody “fits” into that process. This will create ownership and accountability.
• Inform everybody of your ideal customer and the most value-generating products/services the company provides its customers.
• Be certain everybody is saying the sales USP (unique selling proposition or “elevator pitch”).
Selling anything is based on having the right sales attitude, maximizing relationships and having a strategic process (Mindset/Art/Science). Selling is a team effort. So, rally the troops and Happy Selling ☺
The Power of Priorities
May 18, 2009 | Leave a Comment
What have you said ‘Yes’ to in your work that you probably shouldn’t have?
Successful people realize that they can do ANYTHING, but they can’t do EVERYTHING! Are you trying to do it all? Do you tend to get bogged down in the “thick of thin things”?
My husband and I recently spent an afternoon weeding and pruning the shrubs in our yard. Getting rid of pesky weeds allows the bedding plants room to spread out and thrive. Just as pruning allows the shrub to grow fuller and bloom more abundantly next season, so pruning in your life will allow you to thrive and excel in those areas most important to you.
The key to moving forward fast is prioritizing. Ask yourself,
- Is this the best use of my time right now?
- Could someone else handle this task more efficiently and effectively?
- Is there something that I could be doing that only I can do well?
- Is this activity making full use of my talents and abilities?
How are you spending your time, energy, and resources? Are you making the most of each day? What have you said ‘yes’ to in your work that you probably shouldn’t have?
Essentially it’s all about priorities. The choice is up to you.
To your success,
Jennifer
