Specializing in social marketing and business communications training

Get In Front CommunicationsHome Contact Get in Front CommunicationsContact Subscribe to Get in Front CommunicationsSubscribe
You are here: Home / Archives for Motivation

The 10 best things to do to supercharge your career

by at 7:33 pm 2 Comments

BBQ pit at Salt Lick

 

 

 

 

 

These are rhetorical questions: Are you looking for some excitement? Are you caught up in a bland routine at work?

If things are a bit mundane, consider these 10 points:  

  1. Go away. I’m not talking about a vacation, simply take a day off and bring your journal to a place that’s at least six miles away from your home or office. A change of scenery does wonders. Plan a get-away once a quarter, especially when you’re stressed.
  2. Keep your promises. The most important promises are the ones we make to ourselves. If you have vowed to take a class, get a certification, or revise your résumé, get going! Feeling stuck is a real drag.
  3. Read often. Learn from the great ones like Gandhi, Harry Truman, Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, and Steve Jobs. Read their biographies and autobiographies. If you’re pressed for time—and who isn’t? —read magazine articles about successful people you’d like to emulate. Consider these people your mentors.  
  4. Train yourself to think fast. When the power at the Super Bowl was zapped, the biggest buzz was not about the game and electricity as it was about dunking Oreo cookies in the dark. Nabisco makes Oreos, and it was Nabisco, Walgreens, and Tide that immediately jumped onto Twitter with snappy marketing nuggets. Not only did employees think fast, they took immediate action and created quite a buzz. This leads me to No. 5…
  5. Avoid procrastination. When something needs to be done, get right to it. Putting it off will only cause stress and anxiety. Actor Denzel Washington says that he and his wife have raised their four children with this rule: “Do what you have to do so you can do what you want to do.”
  6. Be accountable for yourself. Do not blame other people. Take full responsibility for your actions and words.
  7. Always do your best. This is one of the points that author Don Miguel Ruiz shared in his book, The Four Agreements.  Every day we are faced with a plethora of choices. Many decisions we make aren’t in our own best interest. I’ll call my client tomorrow. I’ll just throw together this report. The key is that your best will vary. If you have a cold on Tuesday, your best will not be the same on Friday when you’re feeling better. Don’t compare; just do your best in each and every moment.  
  8. Focus on tech. Commit to learning two or three new tech tools each month. Consider what’s hot in your field and what your competitors are utilizing. You may decide after toying around with a new program or platform that it’s not for you. And that is OK.   
  9. Quit criticizing, judging, and complaining. These three habits destroy people and relationships. They drain our energy and interfere with our potential and achievements. Be aware of how you behave.  
  10. Expect good things to happen. When we anticipate good things, they usually happen. If you expect happiness, love and success, they will begin showing up in your life. If you focus on the negative, these will show up as well. It’s like ordering food in a restaurant. You generally get what you ask for.  If you don’t like what you’re getting in life, send it back. Be clear about what you want.

Which of these can you begin right away? Share your successes below!

Filed Under: Communication, Interpersonal Relationships, Leadership, Motivation, Success Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Musings from a new 50-year-old

by at 7:53 pm 11 Comments

Today’s my “big birthday.” 5-0.

I won’t reflect on ”Where did the time go?” 

I won’t say 50 is the new 30. Gravity tells me otherwise.

I will say that this past week I have become remarkably indifferent about this birthday.

I was going to write a post such as, “50 things PR has taught me.” Or, ”50 snappy lessons from a 50-year-old.” Blah, blah, blah.

Instead, let’s go back 25 years. It’s 1987. On my 25th birthday, I sat in the den in the house I grew up in and talked with my mom. 

When she expressed shock that I was 25 (and she wasn’t), I responded that I hadn’t accomplished much in 25 years. But of course, a mother’s wisdom emerged with this gem: 

“You’ve been in school for most of your 25 years. It’s the next 25 years that will be more telling. G-dwilling, we should revisit this conversation when you’re 50. Then if you say that you haven’t done much, that’s a different story.”  

Good point.

Today, I’m blessed that my parents are still with me and have seen my accomplishments these past 25 years. Naturally, they have been there for the rough patches, too. Which leads me to being grateful for my own two children, my husband, Andrew, my sisters, brother-in-law and their families. Throw in a big extended family, too. 

As a 50-year-old, I will share this with you: 

  • I checked the mirror this morning to make certain I didn’t wake up with a moustache. Mood swings: Stay tuned. 
  • I have stopped short of cutting my hair like Jamie Lee Curtis. 
  • I still get a peculiar look on my face when I look in the garage at my 2012 Hyundai Elantra. It’s a far cry from my first car, a 1981 Chevy Camaro. 

 

It’s been a hell of a run these past 25 years.

Big plans for me? Not so much. I won’t be spending time trying to figure out what the next two decades may bring.  

Instead, I’ll be busy taking a few deep breaths and enjoying the blessings of the moment.

Every day should be celebrated like this. It’s all I’ve got.   

 

Filed Under: Communication, Interpersonal Relationships, Motivation, Self-Confidence, Success, Women Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

5 Easy Steps to Writing Your Own Top 10 List

by at 2:09 am 3 Comments

Unless you’ve been trapped under a rock in some remote corner of the planet, you may have noticed the news is packed with year-end summaries featuring 2010′s “Top 10” lists. There’s a list for everything these days. Best movies, worst social media dating sites, celebrity divorces, vegan diets, ugliest cars, and more.  You get the picture. 

I’m always amazed that people would spend their time —their hottest commodity— to recall these far-fetched things. How relevant are they in your life? And who the hell cares about Bristol Palin’s dancing?   

As the media focuses on these nonsensical topics, I encourage you to to make better use of your time and compile your own ”Top 10″ list for 2010. 

Here are five easy steps to get you started: 

1. Grab a piece of paper and pen (or the keyboard, I personally like to write mine down), and list your key accomplishments and successes over the past twelve months. 

2. Think hard and don’t rush. If you’re like me, you’ve quickly ‘moved on’ and downplayed your triumphs. Start digging into the cobwebs of your mind.  

3.  Make one list for your professional life and a separate one for your personal achievements.

4. Take the spotlight and enjoy being center-stage. Many people who work in PR, myself included, tend to take the back seat when it comes to projects at work. We’re often “ghost-writers”” who brilliantly craft words, messages, content, and angles for our bosses and clients so they will look good in the public eye. We lurk behind the scenes. Not this time. 

5. Celebrate your hard work. Pat yourself on the back and acknowledge your efforts and achievements. Who needs Bristol Palin or Donald Trump?  This could be the most important exercise you’ll do this year.

Your lists will help energize you as you look ahead to a new year and a new decade. Give yourself credit for the projects you’ve worked on, the people you’ve helped, and the good that you’ve done. Then make your “Top 10 Goal List for 2011.”  Build on the momentum of this year’s success. Consider this activity a look back, and a look forward.

And for the record, I’ll be working on my list, too. 

Filed Under: Business, Motivation, Public Relations, Self-Confidence, Success Tagged With: , , , ,

How to Dispel the Myth of Writer’s Block

by at 1:17 pm 6 Comments

human brain“Nametag Scott” (a.k.a. Scott Ginsburg) is not only an interesting guy to speak with; he’s an innovative businessman who has the courage to allow his creative and entrepreneurial instincts to thrive.

If you’re not familiar with him, Scott’s been wearing a nametag since he was in college, some 10 years ago. He says he walked out of a campus event, left his nametag on his shirt and people were suddenly quite friendly. They told him he was ”approachable.” And with that, Scott built an enterprise. He’s written 12 books, and is a professional speaker, consultant, and award-winning blogger. He also created NametagTV.com.

I recently interviewed Scott for my “Winning Ways” series on successful leaders. I’m happy to share his insights on creativity and the myth of writer’s block.  Here’s Part 1 of our conversation:

The Endless Reservoir

“Writers block doesn’t exist. It’s a lie. There’s no such thing as writer’s block because writing is an extension of thinking, so you don’t have writer’s block you have thinker’s  block. If you want to become a better writer, you need to become a better thinker. People ask me all the time how I come up with so many ideas and so much content. They complain they can’t find anything to write about.  Are you kidding me?! Do you live on this planet?! It’s easy to get ideas. Creativity is nothing but active listening. That’s it. ….every morning I don’t decide what I’m going to write.  I just listen for what wants to be written.  That’s the challenge for anyone in any form of art.  Just listen to what wants to be written. It’s everywhere; pay attention. There’s an endless reservoir of stuff to write about. No, I’ve never had writer’s block and I never will. It’s not because I’m an amazing writer.  I make observations, I listen, I write everything down. I’ll always have a full reservoir.”

Not Everyone’s a Writer

“People have this misconception that writing is with your hand. Not at all. Remember that writing is an extension of  thinking. You can talk on a video camera and then  have it transcribed. Here’s another idea for non-writers. You can find someone who is great on riffing with you who has a somewhat comparable brain style. Sit down with them, turn on the Flipcam, give them a list of questions to ask you, and have them provoke you.  That’s because you always say better stuff when you’re just chatting. Then have it transcribed. There are so many different ways of getting your thoughts on paper. It’s not about writing. It’s about thinking. Consider yourself as a thinker, find out how you can get what’s within your brain onto paper. There’s a million ways to do it that satisfies every learning style.”

Part Two: More with Nametag Scott and building business.

By the way, if you want to refine your communication skills and learn more about blogging, Social Media, PR, and sales, sign up for my 21-day free video series, “Speaking of Communication.”



(Photo Credit: Ethan Hein)

Filed Under: Blogging, Business, Communication, content, Creativity, listening, Motivation, Online Marketing, Social Media, Social Networking, Success, Writer's Block Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

5 Emmy Awards You Should Have Won for Social Media

by at 1:15 pm Leave a Comment

NASA Television 2009 Philo T. Farnsworth Primetime Emmy Award“Mad Men”, “Nurse Jackie” and ”The Closer”—all winners at the 62nd Annual Emmy Awards, which honors the best in television acting. (Hey, where was Snooki???!—rhetorical question my friends).

Don’t you deserve some credit for honing your craft and waiting tables while praying your Social Media strategy will pan out? Sure you do.

Best Series, Drama- for responding to off-the-wall, misconstrued, and over-the-top comments on your blog. You kept the dramatics at just the right tempo, and added 47 subscribers too. Sweet.

Best Actor in a Comedy- for attempting to have the creativity and humor of Larry David or Lorne Michaels, only to discover your video kinda sucks. Keepin’ the day job.

Best Guest Actor in a Drama- for nailing a fabulous guest post from a heralded “Social Media Guru/Expert”–yes we can create a buzz without Betty White. Who knew?

Best Social Media Movie-for getting in just under the new YouTube deadline of 15 minutes. IMHO, most of those embarrassing ”Made for TV” movies should be forced to comply with the 15 minute rule too. Just sayin’ .

Best Supporting Actress-for recruiting your stylish and trendy coworker, a lady on the street, or 3-year-old daughter for a cameo in your video blog. It’s all good.

Quick, grab the remote. The damn speeches are coming.


(Photo Credit: NASA HQ Trophy)

Filed Under: Blogging, Business, Communication, Creativity, Motivation, Online Marketing, Social Media, Success Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

7 Signs Your Blog is on Life Support

by at 3:00 am 6 Comments

Broken heartLife support. I can imagine that’s not a good place to be. Yes, humans and animals get sick and hover near death. Sad to report that many blogs have taken a turn for the worse. 

How would you recognize the warnings signs that your blog is heading towards the Pearly Gates of the Blogosphere? Is St. Peter waiting for your blog?

When do you seriously consider pulling the plug?

Think about these 7 tell-tale signs:

1. My blog is updated every two weeks, or every three months, depending on when the TV reality shows are on hiatus.

2. My blog is all about me. Hey, my name and mug shot are on the top. Who else would I want to spotlight? 

3. My blog has links that lead to dead-ends and expired pages. I’ve been too busy to deal with those small details (see No. 1)

4. My blog has posts with word counts of 3,961, give or take. I’ve been told I’ll appear smarter if I write more. Repetition is wonderful when it comes to word count.

5. My blog is quite humble. I don’t like to brag and self-promote. I’m sure those search engines and that Google thingie will bring readers my way. I’m not looking to be an overnight success. I’m good behind the scenes. Really.

6. My blog is consistent in it’s appearance. All the colors, graphics, and fonts are from a template my 12-year-old neighbor designed. How cool is that? I couldn’t afford one of those flashy web consultants. Who needs white space, a theme, and snappy headlines?  And what the hell is WordPress anyway?

7. My blog is easy to maintain. I turned off the response option so no one can comment. It’s working out great for me. Low-maintenance is good.

Oh no, is that a flat line?

 

(Photo Credit: David Armano)

Filed Under: Blogging, Business, Communication, content, Interpersonal Relationships, Marketing, Motivation, Online Marketing, rapport, Social Media, Social Networking, Success, Women, Writing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Embracing Incompetence

by at 8:29 am 6 Comments

DSC05752No one likes to feel incompetent. Whether you’re a housekeeper at the local motel, an executive assistant, or the CEO, incompetence almost always makes us feel bad. It indicates a lack of skill and ineptitude.

Consider competence. That beautiful sense of being knowledgeable, proficient, and capable. Competence means we’ve learned “it”- whatever “it” is.

So why would I suggest that you embrace incompetence? Incompetence implies you don’t know something. But you can learn it. And therein lies my message. It’s time for you to learn.

The First Step

What are you incompetent at right now that you need or want to learn? The first step in learning is to admit you don’t know something. Embrace your incompetence, and begin moving in a new direction. Curiosity breeds competence.

Rapid change is all around us. We keep up or we’re quickly left behind. Learning is frustrating, tiring, and overwhelming. Many people approach the learning process kicking and screaming. Others feel empowered and excited. There’s plenty of ”ouching” along that learning curve. Scary, but essential. Awkward and uncomfortable, but necessary. It’s moving from incompetent to competent.

Consider what your life would be like if you never learned to use a computer, read, or drive. Frustrating or empowering? Look at incompetence as being on the cusp of proficient and capable.

Acknowledge it. Embrace it. Don’t run away from being incompetent. Run towards competent.

Challenge yourself to learn something new. Be patient with yourself when you are “ouching” through the process. Starting now.

Filed Under: Business, Creativity, Interpersonal Relationships, Leadership, Motivation, Self-Confidence, Success, Women Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The 3 Key Words that Will Lead You to Success

by at 11:53 am 3 Comments

detectiveHow do the successful thought leaders of any generation invent, create and discover? What’s left for us to find that doesn’t already exist? Sorry, you won’t become a thought leader or be rich and famous if you reinvent the wheel. And the one discovery I’ve made is the ”build it and they’ll come” approach ain’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Henry Ford said that when people wanted a better and faster way to get around, he could have invented a faster horse. Instead, he went with the car.

In the recent “Influencer Project” (shortest little marketing conference), many Social Media leaders encouraged listeners to be more creative and intuitive. To search our expertise, markets and niches for a slight crack in the door that’s called opportunity. Isn’t that how Pete Cashmore created Mashable, Arianna Huffington built The Huffington Post and Mark Ecko shaped the urban fashion industry?

The Simple Answer

The visionaries and creative leaders that all of us know share the same message and have traveled down one similar path.  They thoroughly understand their industry and marketplace. They know the three key words to innovation, genius and trends.

“Find what’s missing.”

Brilliant words that are so simple they border on frightening. Find what’s missing.

PS– I invite you to take advantage of my 21 day free video series “Speaking of Communication.” It covers everything from PR, Social Media, content development, sales, leadership, EQ, public speaking and more. Sign up now at  http://www.getinfrontcommunications.com.

(Photo Credit: Robotech_Master_2000)

Filed Under: Business, Communication, Creativity, Leadership, Marketing, Motivation, Self-Confidence, Social Media, Social Networking, Success Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Real Deal about the Social Media Revolution

by at 8:20 am 1 Comment

Revolutionary war generalMy take on a piece of history.

Here’s the real deal on the Social Media Revolution:

1. Yes, it takes time. All revolutions do.

2. No,  it’s really not a battle. It’s about comraderie.

3. Yes, it’s about training. Mentally, emotionally and intellectually.

4. No, it’s not about a leader with white hair named George Washington. It’s about a bald man named Seth Godin.

5. Yes, it’s about loyalty. Some things never change.

6. No, it’s not about weapons. It’s about tools.

7. Yes, it’s about colonies. Of communities, that is.

8. No, it’s not about defending our freedom. It’s about defending our brands.

9. Yes, it’s about survival in a new world.

My Dad would be proud- he’s a huge history buff. Carry on.

(Photo Credit: DBKing)

Filed Under: Business, Communication, Interpersonal Relationships, Leadership, Motivation, Online Marketing, Social Networking, Webinars Tagged With: , , , , ,

50 Summer Slowdown Success Strategies

by at 5:23 pm 7 Comments

1 butterfly on lilac bush closeupGot downtime? Bored? It’s time to kick start your success.

Here are 50 things you can do this summer to prepare for a triumphant rest of the year. Granted many of these don’t sound like fun, but if they were fun, they’d be called vacation. These little things can make your life less stressful and easier to manage day-to-day. You may even develop a new habit!

1. Clean up your database.

2. Sort through your Favorites and Bookmarks. Categorize them and delete the ones that are no longer relevant.

3. Find pictures you can use for future blog posts.

4. Hire a coach.

5. Read a business or motivational book that you haven’t had time for.

6. Go paperless when possible. Shred or toss any old papers you don’t need.

7. Read the magazines you’ve been holding onto for the past seven months.

8. Get rid of the magazines you’ve been holding onto for the past seven months.

9. Contact someone you admire and invite them to coffee or lunch.

10. Become a mentor.

11. Volunteer with a local nonprofit that can benefit from your business expertise.

12. Update your Social Media profiles.

13. Get a new headshot or avatar.

14. Clean out your desk drawers, car and briefcase/computer bag.

15. Take a course you’ve been meaning to sign up for but haven’t had the time.

16. Develop a survey for your blog or customers and get feedback on your products and services.

17. Review and update your crisis communications plan (you have one, right???)

18. Read a biography of a famous leader like Gandhi, Reagan, FDR or Florence Nightingale.

19. Write a handwritten note to five former or current clients to let them know you’ve been thinking about them.

20. Make a few videos for your website.

21. Determine a few online chats that can help your business and participate in them.

22.  Make a list of 100 things you want to do in the next 10 years. Then get started.

23. Keep a gratitude journal.

24. Take a class on public speaking. It’s a must for successful business leaders.

25. Turn off your technology for a day and slow down. Trust your intuition.

26. Create a vision board to keep you focused on your picture of success.

27. Attend a meeting, conference or seminar that you’ve been too busy for.

28. Write down your goals for the next six months.

29.  Refine your elevator speech, pitch and Unique Selling Proposition.

30. Archive and delete old e-mails.

31. Back up your blog, website and computer—every day!

32. Write a note to your favorite old boss or mentor, telling them what they taught you and how much you appreciate them.

33. Unsubscribe to all the e-mails, newsletters and other crap you receive but don’t care for.

34. Take a book or audio CD off of your shelf and share it with a colleague, client or friend.

35. Find three new ways to market yourself or your organization.

36. Update your resume, bio and website.

37. Research awards or contests in your industry that you may be eligible for and mark your calendar for deadlines.

38. Dump old marketing materials that are now dust-collectors in the storage room or closet.

39. Learn and apply a new technology skill or application once every week or two.

40. Pay attention to the news and write a press release or editorial that connects the story to your expertise or company.

41. Gather your co-workers or staff and go bowling.

42. Review your various Social Media groups and chats. Make adjustments as needed.

43. Write down five things you are afraid of doing. Do one of them. Then repeat.

44.  Read “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz.

45. Subscribe to the blogs of five leaders in your field–or your competition.

46.  Make a list of 10 reasons you went into your profession and why you are passionate about what you do.

47. Learn self-mastery.

48. Jot down 10 negative experiences you have had and what you learned from each of them. There is always a positive lesson to take away.

49. Take an occasional day off and do nothing.

50. Write a personal mission statement that reflects your values and integrity.

Come September, you’ll be glad you did some of these. I’d love to hear from you and find out about your success! Comments welcome.

Filed Under: Blogging, Business, Communication, Leadership, Marketing, media, Motivation, networking, Online Marketing, Public Relations, Social Media, Social Networking, Success, Writing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
« Older Posts