Would You Have Bought the First Fax Machine?

What it must of been like, back in the day, before faxes? Can you imagine being a "fax machine salesperson" then? Trying to convince everyone that there will be some other people with a fax and you'll be able to send documents to each other.

What were the questions like?

Maybe there were something like this: What if you only sell two and I can only fax to two people...how does that help me? What about the long distance charges? This seems like it would just take so much time and then how will you really know that they got it? Having to learn to load the paper and where do I get supplies - do you really think this thing will catch on? I'm sticking to the US Post - that's worked, it's always worked and I can depend on it.

Now, take those same questions and think "social media".

Some of you are old enough (me included) to remember when people would say, "Email? Who has time for email? Beside a computer is so expensive?" Back in the late 70s when Bill Gates announced that everyone home would have a computer, we all looked at him like he grew a third head. Pipe dreams we chided!

Now, look where we're at.

So, if you think social media is a fad - passing thing - just something for now. You might want to think again.

Here's some cold hard numbers that we all need to stop and take notice:

Top 10 Services, Overall

• Facebook: 33%
• Email: 13%
• Print: 9%
• Twitter: 9%
• Favorites: 8%
• Google: 6%
• MySpace: 6%
• Digg: 3%
• Live: 3%
• Delicious: 3%

At 400 million global users strong, and rapidly growing, Facebook is a mandatory content and engagement play for any brand and media property.

In February 2010, Nielsen reported that Facebook users are averaging seven hours per month, up 10%, sharing and connecting within their social graph. If we used Compete’s numbers, Facebook would rank #2, just behind Google.

Maybe it's time to modernize and socialize your site. Here's the top ten things you can do to start that process - well listed by Social Media Today.

It's Not the What; It's the Where

Kudos and a 'happy dance' for Sandra Bullock for earning the Best Actress Oscar last night! I couldn't be happier for her. Much deserved as she has put in 15 years as an actor and I just love her comedic timing!

But, I didn't watch the Oscars and I didn't hear it or read it on the news.

So, am I just telepathic like that - gifted like that? Try connected like that.

A Facebook friend was doing status updates with all the winners for every category. Thank goodness she was the only one or I would had to of 'silenced' some of them from my status updates.

That's how I knew. The news found me. I absolutely did not go looking for it.

Then, other friends started commenting on how they "balled their eyes out" when Sandra Bullock accepted her award. Others said they were "touched" while still others were pondering on Mo'nique's comment about "politics".

So, what did I do? I got onto YouTube and searched "Sandra Bullock 2010 Oscar award acceptance" and I found the snippet of just her acceptance speech in its entirety. Now, granted, I haven't looked this morning yet I do know the networks troll YouTube like crazy making sure those 'unapproved' recordings don't show up there (or at least live there very long) yet that is where I watched it.

I didn't see any of the TV ads (because I wasn't on TV). I did notice a plethora of new Facebook ads showing up from first time Facebook advertisers. And, I know I saw something in the YouTube ads but really I just watched the snippet and then clicked "X" to close that window.

So, knowing this, how many others do you think did the same? And, as we shift the way information is shared and gathered, what are you doing about it to be even visible?

Graduate Life...With Honors

Ever watched the movie "With Honors" starring Brandon Fraser and Joe Pesci? My favorite quote from the movie is "You will graduate life...with honors". Isn't that just a beautiful way to sum things up?



Coaching clients who are focused on extracting, expressing or exuding their personal brand, at one time or another, touches into a bit of 'life coaching'. Why?

Because when you ask people about their Vision, Purpose, Values and Passions, they take a good hard look at "their dash".

Recently, I led a group of Chamber Leaders through a goal setting exercise. Basically, I asked them to write out the picture of what December 31, 2010 looks like to them. Describe it in full - with details on sounds, sights and even smells and feeling. Then, I asked them to write down "one thing" that would make that inevitable. Then, to break that one thing down into 7 tasks with deadlines that would make that one goal "inevitable".

Lastly, I asked them to write down the three things in life that are MOST important to them. Now, look at that vision at the end of 2010 and all that it will take to reach the ONE THING you need to do to make that vision come true. Do all those actions "honor" the three things that are most important to you when LIFE is "all said and done".

I encourage you to take a moment to focus on what matters most to you and not let it be "set aside" from the busy-ness that comes from what matters least.

How's your dash? When you have that down and understood, your brand expression will be authentic and transparent.

Respond to Save Your Brand

Coming up you have a great event, you invited your closest contacts and even asked your friends to invite their friends. You put, very plainly - RSVP please (which means we need your response - yes or no, your response is needed). Yes, you even went so far as to explain what RSVP means (deja vu?!) And, still no responses and a boat load of people at the front door expecting enough seats, food, drinks for everyone because "how can ONE PERSON" have mattered?

That's my standard RANT! (I have some but just a few...no, really.)

Actually, I was involved with an event that happened yesterday that people RSVP'd for - it's true - it was like a precious miracle! They not only RSVP'd they responded well. Yes, even those who had to decline the invite, responded well.

Remember, when and IF you respond to an invitation it reflects on your brand. You either move yourself forward in your character and competence; or maintain it and all is well; or you set it backwards leaving someone with the after taste of "why did I invite them in the first place?

A positive response:

• Thanks for the person for thinking of them or inviting them
• Graciously declines with much gratitude
• And wishes them well or the opportunity to be invited again
• And, it's timely arriving on or before the deadline needed (for a headcount and sanity of the poor host)

That is a great response that reflects positively on your brand!

What's not good?

A response like this....
"Well, I wanted to attend but since I just received the invitation today. There's not enough time to plan and I already have other plans. Thanks."

Hmmmm, what was that?

What is the sender of this response hoping to "teach" the person that invited them?

It could be:

• You're not someone I want to spend time with anyway
• You only read email once a week because we sent you the invite a week agi - you must be slow.
• You're too busy and too snotty to want to spend time with them.
• You're Miss manners - so if you can't do it right, then don't even bother.

Is that really what you want to teach a connection?

Granted, there are times when you FEEL like educating someone on the proper and professional ways of the world. Yet, does that really teach them or make you feel better. And, are you willing to rebuild bridges and take even more time for them to sample your character and competence, to overcome a comment like that?

Why create obstacles for yourself?

RSVP. RSVP timely. RSVP graciously. Be thought of positively.

Are You Serving Up a Meatball Sundae?

This weekend I finished reading Seth Godin's book, "Meatball Sundae - Is Your Marketing Out of Sync".

What a great read and insightful little book on why social marketing and networking need to be included in your marketing mix.

Yet, how often do people piece meal it together and come up with something so taste tempting as a "meatball sundae"?

Sadly, in Seth's words, many of our businesses are still marketing in 1964 ways and it really is 2010.

Here were the major takeaways - though you still need to read the book and get all the relevant wisdom from Seth...

• New marketing is not about yodeling; it's about conversation
• The consumers voice is amplified - do you know what they're saying about you?
• Outsourcing - it's here and now - are you ready?
• People have a choice - they have a choice and they are telling their friends about their choices
• There's a huge shift of abundant choices. Competition is global. (One of my good contacts was surprised as heck that my assistant is in France!)
• The shift is not how many (fans or followers - who cares?!) The focus is on the WHO.
• How do you create a product, service or experience that someone is obsessed with talking about?

There's significant opportunity here as long as you make a choice and commit.

Moving, Touching and Inspiring Others to Action

I'm often asked what I do and while speaking and training is a strong foundation of what I do - so is either coaching someone through communicating their brand in a way that "moves, touches and inspires" others to action or providing the service to do it for them.

Sometimes, however, I think we get so caught up in the mechanics of our systems and processes at the ground level that we can lose sight of the WHY. And, don't we as people do that sometimes - get caught up in the cursed "how's". How does our work make a difference? How does it change the world? How does it change lives?


I know that when people feel that their online presence mirrors authentically their personal brand, company brand and/or reputation they feel inspired. They feel great confidence, pride, and brand strength in their own self and their organization. Often, we work with businesses that are looking for that help and encouragement to confidently go to the next level and reach new markets and when we create a website, blogsite, Facebook page, Twitter page or Linkedin Profile that helps them look like an industry leader, it has direct application to business growth and especially company morale.

We also love to empower individuals within the organization to do their jobs well. When we help the owner, sales manager, marketing director or advertising agency to launch their online identity in a fraction of the time it would take them, they now have more time to work on activities that bring their business to success or quality time with their family. Improving the quality of life and supporting dreams of entrepreneurs is our true mission.

I smile, as big as Dallas, when we can help a non-profit be online within and under their budget, when we can assist in bringing more to their fundraising and "friend" raising effort. They can then focus on helping more people in need and make a remarkable difference in this world (along with their own family life). You can see all the details of WHY family life is a great focus for us, here.

Can we help you?

Living Off the Wall

Today there was a Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary Special that a friend was watching and it brought me back to what I was doing when i first heard his album, "Off the Wall".

Funny, that now, 30 years later and 400 million Facebook users later, "the wall" means something different.

On Facebook, the wall is where your status updates show up, it's where news is published about the latest groups you've joined, photos you've uploaded are announced as are photos you're tagged in.

For businesses, I share that allowing fans to write on your wall is a 'good thing'. Interacting with fans in this very public stream (known as your wall) gives a chance for all the rest of 'us fans' to listen in and sample your character and competence. We see how you interact and how you care. It really exponentially grows positive word of mouth provided that someone is constantly and consistently managing the wall (to be listening and to keep spam off your wall).

For personal profiles, it's the same thing. All though you can have your profile reflect more of 'your brand' by making things more private - especially if being a private person is a part of your brand.

Yet, if you're a person leaving a comment on the wall, be sure to think before you post.

Telling someone that - you haven't returned numerous phone calls so I'm writing on your wall - isn't cool.

Neither is - hey, you, I don't like this and this and this.

While it maybe how you feel, if you really want to reflect positively on your own brand, you'll send a private message and keep specific details and or negatives off of someone wall.

What you write on a wall is an extension of you - are you putting your best foot forward? Before you write something - THINK - should it be kept "off the wall".

Shake That Money Maker!

No, I'm not talking about your "rear" either.

I'm talking about your handshake. That extension of you, your brand and a powerful part of that first impression that's so lasting.

I'm back from a recent trip to see my baby sister in Miss Saigon. The production was playing in Houston, Texas and like many gatherings the principals of the play spent time with the founders of the Hobby Center (the venue for the production). It's a benefit of sponsorship and the founders to have some one-on-one time with the stars of the play.

As I sat in the Founder's Club, I witnessed some cast members just networking with other cast members; some who couldn't tear themselves away from the bananas foster desert and others who were actively working the room.

The ones who were visiting with other cast members or savoring the desserts, when asked "what does this schmoozing mean for you", they responded "not much". "It's part of our agreement and hopefully they'll request the play/production again", one cast member responded.

The ones who were actively handshaking had this to say, "one hand shake could be my next paycheck. They could know someone in casting, play production or who sits on the boards of many organizations and could recommend me on their next play, gig, singing event, production, show, voice over and even a heads up on a casting call."

The remarkable difference between those who 'get it' and those 'who don't'.

Which one are you?

Do you know what your handshake says about you?

Making the Refrigerator

My absolute favorite speaker in the whole wide world is Roger Crawford. HE is at the top of my list. And, I've seen many and been impressed by many.

Jim Stovall could walk to the edge of the stage and back without missing a beat and he was blind. Robert Kioysaki commands any group he's with, with wisdom and story. Brian Tracy will challenge you. Jack Canfield will warm your heart. Patrick Lencioni is a superb storyteller. Marcus Buckingham will charm you. And, John Maxwell is the teacher of all teachers. But, Roger - he motivates me, inspires me and is the one who can get me to get up off the floor every time I've been knocked down.

His fave story of mine is when he talks about making the refrigerator. He shares a story that his daughter always enjoys and he also did, as a young child, just enjoyed having their artwork placed in the "most beautiful art gallery in the world, the Crawford Family refrigerator."

It meant so much for him for his work and talent to be valued an appreciated.

How about you? Are you helping someone make the refrigerator? If you want others speaking positively on your behalf, help them make the refrigerator. Recognize, Reward and Respect them - they'll refer and recommend you!

Tell Your Friends and Family

A good, long time friend of mine called me last week from an office where she was talking to the physician (owner) and realized that they really needed marketing help, so she called me and asked, "Is that what you do?"

I was grateful for the call.

And, it was a wake-up call for me, too.

I realized that those closest to me - my personal fan club - don't really know what I do. And, I'm at fault for not sharing that with them.

My first introduction to business was the MLM (multi-level marketing world) and it was a great introduction. There's no finer training that you can get in personal development than in a direct sales organization.

One of the pieces that they train greenhorns in is to NOT tell your friends and family all about what you're doing. Part of the reason behind that is that because they want to protect you - their thought is that family members and friends will often discourage you in hopes of protecting you from disappointment, loss of money, loss of time and failure.

Yet, isn't the only way to avoid all those things to basically "not" do anything?

I was at a CEO Mastermind meeting last week and one of our members astutely said, "we bought the ticket for this movie." He went onto ask, "how many of us go to those movies where everything's predictable; everyone's happy; no stress; no strife; no challenges; no disappointments".

None of us do.

We want to see the challenge and experience the triumph as if we were there. Hence, we bought the ticket to this movie and we want to experience the entire thing.

So, when my friend asked her question - I thought, you know, maybe I've not done a good job really connecting to dots of what I do. And, so I've been revamping marketing materials, really reviewing how I answer the question - "what do you do" and make sure that I explain and then give a "call to action" on how they can help me.

After all, it's not their job to guess how to help me. It's my job to be clear on what I specifically need for them to help. So, back to work!