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Make Yourself Proud

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I just read an email from a newsletter that I subscribe to from Rob at Owner Media Group. The title was the same as my post, “Make Yourself Proud.” Rob was writing about the advice he gave his son when he dropped him off at college. It got me thinking though.

With all the pressure to succeed, to impress others, to climb the corporate ladder, or as an entrepreneur – to win more business, we all make decisions every day that will drive our future.  One comment in the email really stuck out and puts all this in perspective.

“I know that when I face my choices directly, if I can ‘make myself proud,’ the rest will fall into place.”

We all need to step back and think about this…

Are you making yourself proud?

make yourself proud

Social Media Engagement is Not a Strategy

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I came across this presentation today. I’ve seen Mark Schaefer speak before, he’s pretty good, but I have to admit when I first read the title I thought it was just more link bait.  After reading the power point I have to agree though, Social Media engagement is not in itself a strategy.

I’ve seen some local cases where people have had tons of followers and engagement, but still couldn’t afford the $15 for a co-working space membership. How does that happen?

The main thing you can learn from this presentation is social media engagement is only useful when it is tied to measurable business objectives. For example:

  • Lead Generation
  • Customer Acquisition
  • Customer Service
  • Product Sales
  • Product Development
  • You get the picture, right?

Have a look at the presentation and let me know what you think in the comments.

How Do You Define Success? Freedom

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smileys

I just read a post on LinkedIn from Richard Branson What’s the best measurement for success? Happiness and it got me thinking about how I judge success.

I started a company to build something that would bring happiness. So many people go through live miserable because they don’t like their jobs, and we spend the majority of our time at a work. I wanted to do something I loved and look forward to the week. Not dread having to go back to work every Monday. Of course I want my company to make money, but that is more a means to an end or a by product of the real goal.

Richard described success as happiness. I can maybe take that a step further. Success to me is freedom:

  • To follow my passion
  • To learn and develop as a person
  • To care for those I love
  • The freedom to be happy

How do you define success?

Do You Practice “Naked Consulting”?

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Getting Naked: A Business Fable About Shedding The Three Fears That Sabotage Client Loyalty (J-B Lencioni Series)*

A few years ago my business mentor recommended a book to me that I was reminded about in a meeting today. The main premise of the book is Naked Consulting. No, that doesn’t mean taking your clothes off to get business. That’s a different topic. 😉 What it means in business is to be completely open and honest with your clients, Something I try to practice with my clients.

In the conversation today we discussed learning from our clients and really digging in and understanding their business. Many agencies forget this and think that they have to portray to their clients a sense of having all the answers. The problem is since they have all the answers, they often don’t take the time to really understand their clients business and end up pushing their preconceived ideas on clients. This often is not the best fit.

The bottom line is clients are people and people really want honesty and humility. The book outlines three fears that hold people back from gaining and retaining better clients.

  1. Fear of Losing the Business
  2. Fear of Being Embarrassed
  3. Fear of Being Inferior

Getting Naked is a great read and if you are in the consulting business or any other business for that matter. You should definitely check it out.
*Disclaimer* Click on the image to buy the book. The link to the book is an affiliate link.