Link Up Your Marketing – Build your LinkedIn network with local networking groups
Ready for some simple, actionable LinkedIn marketing strategies? Tune in!
Today is a “build your LinkedIn Network tip! I’m going to show you how to leverage your local networking groups.
Karen Yankovich shows audiences how to turn their passion into prosperity. She delivers high-level, high impact, high energy keynotes, presentations and workshops for audiences looking to increase profitability and uplevel their businesses. Want some help? Join the LinkedUp Revolution and get 21 days FREE of in depth Linkedin training! To hire Karen for Your next Event click here: Karen Yankovich
It’s time nonprofits come to grips with the present-day situation. We’re in a pandemic and there is economic stress. The circumstances nonprofits have been thrust into don’t have a clear end in sight and the challenges faced are likely to have long-lasting impact.
I write this not as a pessimist but as a pragmatic.
There are nonprofits not willing to accept the reality we’re in. Some have a mindset this is a short term crisis and business as usual will resume soon. Some are paralyzed by the uncertainty. Others appear set on continuing their same practices as if they’re oblivious to what’s happening around them.
Acknowledging the problem doesn’t mean adopting a defeatist attitude. It means recognizing this is a new time that will require new approaches to keep your mission moving forward.
Consider critical conversations with your staff and board to identify what matters most now and devote your attention to make that happen.
Rather than expending energy attempting to make where you were pre-COVID fit into where you are, focus on what’s in front of you right now. With the unknown exacerbated by rapidly changing conditions, long term planning may be defined in weeks rather than months or years.
Find ways to be creative, take advantage of available resources, pursue opportunities for collaboration, and make sure your messaging is appropriate.
The realist says we are where we are, understands where that is, and rallies their team around a positive direction that considers existing limitations.
As a nonprofit leader stay positive, keep working, and be safe.
Speaker and Author, Hardy Smith works with nonprofits and associations who want an ongoing culture of performance. A master storyteller, organizations across America have benefitted from Hardy’s extensive career in the world of Nascar racing. His involvement with nonprofits, volunteer and community based groups nationwide has earned him the title of: “The Guru of Nonprofits!” Hardy offers: Keynotes, Seminars, Workshops, Leadership Retreats, and Strategic Planning Sessions! Book Hardy today: https://bit.ly/2ZFALqb
People love the new year for the sense of renewal and a fresh start.
Think about how to make the most of your time, talents, and resources. What will make the most sense for you, increases your happiness factor, and focus on where you want to be in a year?
It is important that we know what we want more of, as well as what we want less of.
Maybe you want a promotion? More money, power, prestige, and influence. Maybe you want a demotion? More free time, decreased stress, and less responsibility. Maybe you want deeper friendships, better relationships, and more community involvement? Maybe you want fewer complications?
Think about what gives you satisfaction, joy, and provides value to your sense of purpose.
Then make a P.R.O.M.I.S.E. to yourself to enthusiastically pursue those aspects that are the most meaningful, most productive, and most important to you.
P. Plan courageously.
Want to take a vacation? Buy the tickets now and block the dates on your calendar before the year gets booked up. Want to acquire another company? Make the offer. You can secure the funding later. Ready to move across country? Start packing now. Put the house on the market. Start job hunting.
Assume that you will succeed when you take the necessary steps. Be confident that you can handle the setbacks.
Many people say they have a dream, but they don’t achieve those dreams because they allow the dream to dissolve without forming it into a plan.
Take the idea and craft it into a plan.
R. React properly.
It is easy to overreact to bad news or the impact that an external shock might have on your business. React properly. Assess the situation for what it is. Implement the right response quickly.
O. Offer gratefully.
If you make an offer, do it with intention and gratitude. If you are in a business relationship and you feel you are getting taken advantage of, chalk it up to a lesson learned and move on.
A colleague was bemoaning that she had to redo her entire contract because one customer managed to work around some of the legal language to get more services than my friend understood she should provide. My response was: “So what? Provide the services and move on.”
Don’t let one negative encounter sour your relationship with your well-intentioned clients. Don’t assume they were trying to take advantage of you.
Every time I shop at a big box store, the ones where you have to show your sales receipt on the way out of the building, I wonder, “What prompted them to hire people to stand at the doors and check receipts? Was there a parade of shoppers racing for the doors with carts full of rotisserie chickens, dog food, and muffins?”
I wonder about the opportunity costs of hiring all of those people over decades to check receipts, and the additional time it takes for people to leave the store because of this process. Were there that many people stealing the 64 packs of toilet paper?
Make the offer. Be grateful for the people you get to work with. Assume that people are mostly good.
M. Motivate individually.
People are individuals, not a demographic. While our brains like to categorize people into boxes to make it easier for our brains to make sense of the data, it is a lazy way to respond. People are different and they need different responses from us. The danger is that we might think everyone in a certain category automatically shares specific traits so they receive the same response. Appreciate and motivate individuals based on what matters to them as individuals, not according to their demographic profile.
I. Imagine outrageously.
What would we do if we knew we couldn’t fail? What could we do if we thought big, like, really big? Where would our careers go? What would our business be like? Who do we admire? How did they think bigger? Contemplate others who are big thinkers. How can we think without constraints? Imagine thinking crazy big thoughts.
S. Strategize mindfully. It is easy to fall into the trap of “What did we do last year? Let’s do more of that next year (especially if it worked).“ That breeds status quo. Great strategists look first at the changing needs of the markets and future trends, and then they ask, “How can I serve that market with what I know? How am I different from everyone else in the market? What makes me and my product offerings better? What problem am I solving? What needs am I addressing? What am I improving?”
Then, they craft the solution to the market needs.
E. Encourage sincerity. People need genuine encouragement. People need to know they are valued appreciated, and respected. People have to be encouraged in a way that matters to them. Leaders need to help the people around them stay focused, positive, motivated to do what they do.
This year, let’s make a P.R.O.M.I.S.E. to stay motivated and inspired, while helping those around us do the same.
Mary Kelly, PhD, CSP, CPAE, CVP, CDR, US Navy (ret) What do all of these designations mean to you? Mary Kelly has EXPERIENCE and it’s this experience that your executives and your audience must learn to change the way they thrive in work and in life. Of all her titles, Mary’s favorite is teacher and after an outstanding career, she is focused on teaching professionals to navigate the economy, build their business, be a true leader and get more done. Add inspiration, grace and a few hilarious stories and you have yourself one unforgettable keynote speaker, whether Virtual or Onstage! Mary just recently was named as one of the Top Keynote Speakers of 2020 by Top World Sales Inc, and her new Best-seller, “Who Comes Next?: Leadership Planning Made Easy” was awarded the Gold Winner Book Award for Non-fiction. To Book Mary Kelly for your next Virtual, Onstage, or Hybrid Event Call today at 888-766-3155 or visit https://bit.ly/3n1KYIM
Kelly Swanson, is an award-winning storyteller, comedian, motivational speaker, and author of Who Hijacked My Fairy Tale, The Land of If Only, The Story Formula, and The Gutsy Girls Pocket Guide to Public Speaking. In addition to her role as a funny motivational speaker; Kelly teaches people how she does it by sharing what she has learned about connecting and engaging to have more influence in business, through the use of one tool – strategic storytelling. To book Kelly Swanson for your next Virtual, Onstage or Hybrid event call 888-766-3155 or visit: https://bit.ly/3pcR4Y3.
The year of 2020 will be remembered not for what we lost, but for what we gained in knowing truly what we are thankful and grateful for! We have been through many trials and tests, with still more to come, but we have shown we can still be thankful in the midst of our circumstances and help others do the same.
What are you thankful for as we approach this Thanksgiving Day 2020? I look back on our history, when 400 years ago in 1620 the Pilgrims, who chose to come to this land, and faced many hardships, including the loss of lives. Yet , they still wanted to be thankful to the God of all creation, and reached out to others to celebrate the beauty and harvest of this new land.
Little did they know when they recorded the 200 words of the Mayflower Compact on their ship before they landed at Plymouth Rock, that it would be the foundation of our country as we know it today. A lot has happened since then, but we can still stand for the truth that we believe in and celebrate the blessings of our individual lives.
Today I celebrate and am thankful for the many blessings that I have received in this great land called The United States of America. I am thankful for the freedom of choice in serving God, a wonderful family, amazing health, those who fought and continue to fight for my freedoms, being in the workplace for over 50 years doing the work I love, with the most Remarkable team and clients, being supported by our Prayer Partners, and the many friends we have all over the world.
I don’t take lightly the freedom that has been fought for and won, nor the challenges of today. But I face the tomorrows to come with pursuing joy, peace, and contentment; knowing that our God is still in control and His principles will prevail no matter what comes!
Today I ask you, What Are You Thankful For? Share it with others and surround yourself with those who are thankful and grateful to be living in such a great country, America, home of the brave and the free.
Sue Falcone is the Founder and CEO of Remarkable! A Speakers Bureau. Spending a good part of her career as a corporate executive, and then as a Professional Speaker and Best-selling Author, Sue knows first-hand how difficult it is to plan and facilitate any event. Hiring the perfect speaker or musical entertainer for an event, meeting or conference can be a very stressful process. Sue is passionate about her work and dedicated to bringing customized, personalized and highly detailed services to her clients. Contact Sue today at 888-766-3155 to help you get started in creating a Remarkable Experience from beginning and beyond!
HOW HEALTHY ARE YOU? … and I’m not talking about COVID-19.
Yes, physical health matters, but there is so much more to being truly healthy.
It can be pretty easy in a year of pandemic to drill down “health” to not getting COVID-19. But, how are you doing mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and so on?
Watch this quick video for some challenging questions and to be inspired to pursue real health.
The now infamous Quarantine of 2020 never had an official start date. Unlike Dec. 25, July 4, Feb. 14 and other calendar days synonymous with celebratory events, the world didn’t simultaneously lock its doors on one particular day and fire up Netflix.
Was it March 16? March 27? Did you hold out until early April before realizing that, because your favorite sports team was canceling its season and your beloved restaurant was locking its doors, maybe you should take this Anthony Fauci guy seriously?
For me, the quarantine began the day my wife returned from Costco, presented me with a 45-ounce container of Dunkin Donuts Medium Roast Original Blend coffee and said, “That ought to hold you.”
Her shopping run also contained the items Americans were grabbing as if the doors to a Brink’s truck had just flung open at 65 miles per hour, scattering $100 bills on the interstate. Toilet paper, sanitizing wipes and gargantuan containers of condiments vied for space inside her SUV. Should an asteroid smash into our home anytime soon, what’s left of my body will be coated in salsa.
How much Costco coffee is too much?
The label on the Dunkin Donuts java monstrosity stated I should be able to brew 150 cups. As someone who limits his caffeine intake to one cup of coffee per day, and occasionally skips the beverage altogether in favor of tea or water, I calculated that I should be set for five months.
“Where will I be in five months?” I remember asking myself as I opened the container and scooped the first grounds into my office coffee maker. Surely, I’ll be traveling again, spending nights in myriad hotels as I’ve been doing for the last 25 years due to my profession as a corporate comedian and keynote speaker. With so much time away from my home office, it might be upward of a year before I needed to replenish my coffee supply, I estimated.
Yesterday, while preparing my lone cup, the coffee measuring scoop touched plastic. That’s right, I was approaching the bottom. And, as the coffee brewed, I realized how little had changed from the day I opened the container.
Costco has replaced hotels
There have been no plane trips or hotel stays. The only change to my morning routine was that I replaced the coffee maker’s charcoal filter after about the 60th cup. Five months after the country shut down, give or take a week, our routines have become so singular that we struggle to remember what they were like pre-pandemic.
Many of us can’t remember the last time we packed a suitcase. Bellied up to a bar. Visited a hair salon. Went to our closet and picked out a suit and tie or a cocktail dress. Hell, I can’t remember the last time I wore pants. Chalk that up to an inordinately warm Chicago summer and the fact that Zoom meetings and Skype video chats only require me to look presentable from the shoulders up.
And yet, I now consistently remember tasks that slipped my mind pre-quarantine. Watering flowers for instance. In previous summers, I would sometimes arrive home to dried up geraniums, as I erroneously assumed they could tough it out for 48 or 72 hours. Not so this year. Each day, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. they receive a drenching and have never looked better.
I walk the dog more, change the bed sheets more often and scrub my bathroom sink more frequently. I cook more, exercise more and watch more television.
Were COVID-19 to be eradicated from the earth tomorrow, I wonder how much of my new routine would remain. Would I return to neglecting the dog and the flowers? Or would I figure out some way to merge my pre- and post-pandemic lives?
Like the rest of the world, I am anxiously awaiting that day. In the meantime, I had better replenish my coffee supply.
Being an optimist, I’m going to stay away from Costco.
Greg Schwem’s comedic take on the 21st century workplace and work/life balance has landed him on SIRIUS Radio, FOX News, Comedy Central,pages of Parents Magazine, and as a Keynote Speaker for many business audiences. More than just a business humorist, Greg is also an author and nationally syndicated humor columnist. Whether Onstage or Online: Book Greg Schwem today: https://bit.ly/3dQ1BDL
My best friend Marty has created quite the “Norm from Cheers” ritual. Four to five mornings a week, he goes to this local deli where he orders the same thing, “Lox, cream cheese, one slice of tomato on an untoasted everything bagel.” Every time.
Like a fly on the wall, he sits on the outer benches of their outside “dining” (if you could call it that) and absorbs all of the local gossip while hunkering down with his yellow legal pad reviewing the behemoth day he has ahead.
By the second week, he smiled a bit when as soon as he walked through the front door, the owner would say, “Usual,” and Marty would nod.
Unlike Norm from Cheers, “nobody knew his name,” (he eventually did formally introduce himself) but they knew what he had. Within walking steps inside the deli, the guy would just look over at him, Marty would nod back, and the shorthand “Usual” order was in the process of being made.
Week after week the same ritual ensued, it was a quiet comfort, but then Marty became slightly restless and needed to “shake things up,” and told me the big news.
Today he was going to order scrambled eggs on an English muffin and see if the guy reacted. Just to shake things up!
He walked in, the guy gave him the “nod,” and Marty said, “No today I’d like scrambled eggs on an English muffin. The guy looked shell shocked like Marty had suggested they do a group Macarena dance in the parking lot followed by a communal sing-a-long of Kumbaya.
Even when he went to pay, the same owner was about to ring up the “usual.”
Marty and I had a little chuckle when he shared the story.
Yet a few minutes later I saw that this simple anecdote housed within it a great metaphor for what we do every day in our lives and quite frankly we do to others.
As humans we are often in a dance between feeling both soothed by the familiar, and by having our own “Hey Norm” moments where people “know us,” it’s somehow comforting.
But that comfort can also box us in when people around us become taken aback by us doing things differently. When we are not being “Norm” or “Normal,” to how they perceive us! We can leave the most interesting compelling aspects of ourselves behind closed doors!
Your claim to fame isn’t about being Norm or Normal? It’s about being YOU! Every Day is Different and We are Different Every Day! May yours today be wonderful!
Lois Barth is a Sparkling Funny Motivation Keynote Speaker, Human Development Expert, Coach, and Best-selling Author. She delivers powerful solutions in a playful way! “Where there is laughter, there is learning”, therefore Lois’s principles and tools for what she calls “trans-fun-mation,” are delivered in a very playful yet powerful way, mixing in thought provoking Lois-isms to enhance learning and retention. Book Lois today. Whether Onstage or Online (Virtual) she is still In Person! https://bit.ly/2K4ljhx
Yes, you owe it to yourself to express your uniqueness. When you do this on a consistent basis, you will feel more complete. There’s no one else exactly like you. You are one very special individual who was created to be who you are…doing the best you can each day to get the best results life has to offer. When you can accept yourself and love yourself with all your strengths and all your weaknesses, you will be more able to express your uniqueness.
Remember, weaknesses provide you with opportunities for growth When you accept and respect yourself, you will be better able to express your uniqueness. You have so much more to offer the world than just a shadow of yourself. Give up your old hurts and scars. Know that whatever caused them was in your life to help you grow. Give up negative thinking. Focus on a positive future. Keep forgiving yourself for any mistakes you may have made. If you could have done better at the time, you would have. Congratulate yourself for becoming who you are.
Many of us undermine our confidence by trying to earn the approval of others. For some reason, we think if we can get the approval of those around us, things will be better. The truth is..you are the only one who can make your life better. Until you learn how to believe in yourself, rely on yourself, and be who you truly are, you will have to rely on your ability to influence others to fulfill your needs.
You owe it to yourself to meet your own wants, needs, and expectations. This doesn’t mean you have to be alone. It means that whether you are alone or with others, you can be yourself….the wonderful one-of-a-kind unique individual you were created to be.
What are you doing today to express your uniqueness?
Judi Moreo is an International Award-winning Motivational Speaker, Best-selling Author, Corporate Trainer and Executive Coach. Known as “The Charismatic Communicator” Judi is one of the most in-demand speakers on motivation, communication skills, and personal development in the world. She is the author of newly revised You Are More Than Enough and is the publisher of both the Life Choices book series and Choices magazine as well as the host of the popular Life Choices with Judi Moreo on the Golden Network on ROKU! To book Judi Moreo click here: https://bit.ly/2Orosec
The need for adaptability has never been greater than it is now. The ability for people, teams, and organizations to adapt to changes in their environments, has been called the new competitive edge. The same is true for individuals: employers increasingly want workers who can adapt to an ever-changing workplace.
Someone who is adaptable is open to new ideas, and doesn’t need to do things just because “that’s how they’ve always been done.” They’re able to anticipate changes and don’t panic when things don’t go according to plan.
To stay relevant as an organization you need to think and act in an adaptable manner. As a leader or senior manager, you play an important role in leading your team through periods of change, whether that be new workplace procedures, new goals or new technology. An adaptable mindset empowers you to support your team more effectively and better manage the impact of new challenges.
Adaptability also tends to improve your level of resilience, meaning that periods of uncertainty are less likely to impact on your overall personal wellbeing. Adaptable people tend to be happier and more content as they’re not struggling against the tide or trying to resist when things change.
Being adaptable also has a direct impact on your personal sense of happiness. Being adaptable means not feeling hopeless and helpless in the face of change. If you can tell yourself that you have the skills and ability to change yourself, even if you can’t change the situation, you have figured out the key to being happy regardless of your circumstances.
If you are adaptable, you will also bounce back from adversity more quickly. This is because you would change yourself to accommodate your circumstances. This means less time trying to change your circumstances, which may or may not work, and more time adjusting your own attitude and expectations.
So, are you adaptable? Here are five questions to ask yourself in order to find out:
1. Can you handle failure?
To adapt means to grow and change what you consider to be right to something new (sort of- the new right) in your life and career. If you are not able to do that, you stagnate. This is something that individuals and organizations alike struggle with- habits that have led to success in the past are now being questioned or need to be replaced. This is confusing at times and creates much anxiety for many. Can they actually implement those new habits? Will those new habits actually lead to success? With new habits comes the unknown, with trials, errors and a high potential for things not working out the way we hope they will. Our old formulas for success can no longer be applied.
Coming up with new ones does not guarantee that we hot it right. We all have different levels of tolerance to the idea of potential failure. If you cannot stomach the idea of potential failure, your anxiety will cause you (or your team, or your organization) to cling back to the old, seemingly (yet not so much anymore) ‘safe’ way of doing things. Ask yourself this: can I, actually, stomach a potential failure?
2. Are you proactive?
Adaptable people and organizations tend to be proactive. This means that when problems arise (and problems always arise), instead of blaming, accusing, or freezing- they are forward-looking in their approach to resolving situations. This means that the underlying question is always: how do I/we make sure that THIS doesn’t happen again? What can I/ improve as a result? The benefits of a proactive approach are that it creates improvement rather than despair, and growth rather than anxiety and negativity.
3. Do you keep yourself accountable?
Accountability is the mother of all change. When we hold ourselves accountable for our share and responsibility in every situation rather than blaming and accusing others, we have the power to create real change. I oftentimes find that people who feel stuck, and as a result very frustrated, are actually people who refuse to see their share in the situation, and as a result, cannot see their potential to change things on their end. Think of it this way: if you have potential responsibility of 50% to every situation that you are struggling with, specifically if it involves other people, you also have a 50% change capability.
4. How positive and optimistic are you?
A positive self-attitude relies on our inner belief in our own power, or in the power of the team or the organization, to succeed and grow. Without positivity and optimism, there is no wind in the person, the team or the organization’s sails. Optimistic people tend to be much more adaptable compared with people who are negative and pessimistic. Most people are somewhat in the middle. Caught yourself talking negatively to yourself in your own head? Noticed that you are being negative when you talk to others? Catch yourself and change your language. Replace phrases of doubt with phrases of optimism, words of negativity with words of positive encouragement. It is a conscious choice that you can make every day, every minute.
5. Are you able to see the big picture?
Resistance to change is often borne out of a lack of understanding of why it’s necessary or the potential benefits it will bring. An awareness of the wider context and an understanding of how things work and connect empowers you to see beyond potential challenges to the wider goal and motivates you to find solutions. If you are a leader, make sure to communicate the big picture to your team, and make sure that it is clear to you first. If this involves your personal life, make sure the big picture is clear. Why is change needed? What impact will it have? Read the articles. Get the tools. Gain knowledge. Understanding the bigger picture will answer your ‘why’ and give you a sense of purpose and determination.
Whether you are more or less adaptable, it is a skill to work on. Adaptability is one of the most sought-after traits for leaders. It is also one of the most important parameters for success in every dimension of life- both personally and professionally.
As Tracy Chapman sings in her song ‘The Times They Are-a- changin’:
If your time to you
Is worth savin’
Then you better start swimmin’
Or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin’
Yes, the times are changing. Work on your own tolerance to change. Improve your adaptability. As a leader, work on creating a culture of adaptability. Tracy Chapman is right. Times are a-changin’.
Dr. Michelle Rozen, International Keynote Speaker, Change Expert and Author, is a highly influential Social Media Expert, and featured on NBC, ABC, CNN, FOX News and many other media outlets discussing change, motivation and how the human mind works to become exceptional in every area of our lives, professionally and personally. Dr. Michelle Rozen is one of the most sought after International and National Keynote Speakers! Book Dr. Michelle today: https://bit.ly/34QbHPv
