STAYING GROUNDED: Who has seen “Up In the Air” already?

I don’t mean to trivialize the aspect of being suddenly, involuntarily, unemployed.  One of my sisters, the one raising her grandson, just watched her employer shutter that business, her source of income, forever.  And I also remember the paralysis that gripped my mind and soul when I was faced with the slip that is pink.  I [...]

A Change In Direction: Where Doth Thou Blog?

After stewing periodically for my lack of posts, I decided to fearlessly compose and expose readers to my random themes about…blogging, and what inspirations might arise after a deliberate session of meditation.
I believe I’ll change the direction of what has become an infertile Orange Acorn.
Some bloggers post regularly, within a structure, with an indication of [...]

THE BEST THING ABOUT THE FUTURE…

The best thing about the future is that there IS NO DATA!
I heard this quote, possibly attributed to the noted futurist, Thornton May, at a transformational leadership panel discussion this morning at TechColumbus. This panel was anchored by Maureen Metcalf of Metcalf & Associates, Ben Blanquera, Rattan D’souza and Carl Fernyak of MT Technologies.
What this [...]

SHARPEN YOUR WRITING SKILLS: Here’s haiku do it

Ever suffer writer’s block?  Naw-w-w-w, only about once a day for me.
But I started my rehab program for overcoming these dropped calls from my Muse.  Whether it’s a blank screen on your laptop, or a pure white sheet of nothing on the paper, start your composition with this exercise…a haiku.
Westerners often oversimplify this literary form, [...]

P-I-N-G 4-3-2-1 REDUX

Two weeks ago I posted P-I-N-G  4-3-2-1, a method I practice to stay in touch, to remain relevant.

 
Today, Seth Godin reminded me of just how applicable my PING-procedure can be.
His conclusion:  Friction rewards intent and creates scarcity.  Seth defines friction as the ease, or lack of ease, of communication.  If the channel is free, and [...]

The Zen of Networking

First…you won’t need business cards.  Well, not so many at least.
Prepare to attend networking events by tuning up your radar…sharpen your sensors and turn your awareness to the present tense.  I believe the behavior that will serve you most effectively when meeting others is the awareness of how you can help them.  Regardless of what [...]

Lead From the Bottom, Lead From the Middle, Lead From the Top…But Lead!

What grade do you give your CEO, your manager, your mayor, your boss…on their leadership ability?
Not their management style…you manage THINGS and PROCESSES…you LEAD people.
So how is the leader you have in mind doing?  Do they inspire you to follow them?
Do you share their vision?…Enough to encourage others to work toward this vision?  Did the boss [...]

Sales Fundamentals Mini-Manifesto

Sales is not about Brilliance.
We leave Brilliance to Marketing, and on rare occasions some marketers approach Brilliance.
Sales is about Fundamentals.
The salesman/woman is not the fleet wide receiver or the Heisman-candidate quarterback.
Sales people are the offensive tackles, applying smashmouth in the trenches, doing the unglamourous deeds to help make the running back look so good.
These Fundamentals [...]

The SACRED and the PROFANE: What To Twitter

Twitter is yet another handy Social Media tool to help stay in touch and to lead the Tribe.
Like posting broadsides at the Town Hall and shouting in theVillage Square, these tools can be life-saving/historical
  as Paul Revere’s ride
or just rudely annoying spam.
Our BRAND  is SACRED as long as we continue to earn our reputation.
Our success in [...]

POSSITIVITY: Questions To Externalize

Now is our time to assess just HOW we will respond on Wednesday, November 5 when we learn who has won.
Just HOW will this election change our lives?
What will our behavior be if our candidate wins?
And what if he loses…how will we act?
In all liklihood, the winner will not have an overwhelming mandate.
Almost half the [...]