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Why “Brains on Fire” is a Must-Read for Marketers

01 Sep

I’m a raving fan of the Brains on Fire movement.

I had the honor to be invited to join them in July for their annual FIRE Sessions – a day when they bring in marketing experts who are at the leading edge of the marketing discipline to share their insights and passion with Brains on Fire’s own community, of which I consider myself a part. 

This year, participants were excited to find an advance copy of their new book, “Brains on Fire; Igniting Powerful, Sustainable, Word of Mouth Movements” waiting for each of us.

I eagerly devoured the book and firmly believe it’s a must-read for marketers.

Why, you ask?

Because more than any other organization I’ve become acquainted with, the Brains on Fire team “gets” how to successfully leverage the fact that we’re in a new era of marketing in which each of our clients and customers has access to their own microphone. 

What Brains on Fire does, in inspiring manner, is empower people to go beyond having access to the microphone – empowering them to grab those microphones and ignite movements.

As a fan of the Brains on Fire movement I grabbed the microphone three times in July to rave about the brilliance of their team and the experience they created for their own community – the Brains on Fire Community – at the FIRE sessions: Here in Why You Must Rethink Your Marketing, Here in 3 Smart Reasons to Empower Instead of Influence, and Here in The ROI of Playing The Fool.  It felt wonderful to be able to express my respect for them, my belief in the power of what they are creating, and the ways that I value them as individuals with a microphone, so that many more people would know what I know about them. 

And that is the power of the mic in the hands of your own fans.

This past weekend I was in Atlanta for an event that was put on by my “wise friend” who is creating a movement of powerful women from around the world – women who have the inner power to make the world a better place.  I had barely arrived at the event when she saw me in the audience and asked me to come on stage and share my own experiences with the group.  In effect, she was giving me access to my microphone.

Well, as those of you who know me well know, I love to be given the mic and I try always to speak from the heart – which is what I did on Friday night.  Although I don’t find my own story particularly profound, I had several people come up to me and tell me that they were touched by it, and express a deepening of their own belief in the community of women at the event and in their own power because of the event.

My point being, I know what it feels like to be an advocate – a fan – of something and to be given the opportunity to receive the mic and to share my enthusiasm.  It is empowering while powerful at the same time.

“Brains on Fire” is a lesson-by-lesson guide for you as a marketer on how to give the mic to your clients, fans, advocates, customers, and evangelists (however you define them), on how to become fans of your fans, and on how to ignite your own movements by empowering your communities.  The result is crazy powerful!

Have you had your own experience with a microphone as a “fan?” Please share in the comments…

Please subscribe so you don’t miss a post…Subscribe Here to receive posts in your in-box automatically. To receive posts via “READER” Subscribe Here - thank you – I’m honored to have you as a reader!

Photo is Microphone by hiddedevries.

 
6 Comments

Posted in Marketing, Social Media

 

3 Reasons Your Pitch Isn’t Getting Me to “Yes”

26 Aug

I get “pitched” a lot.  It’s interesting because in most cases I don’t think the other person is really thinking about it as “pitching” me.  Rather, they come to me with an idea or a suggestion of something they’d like to see happen which I have either some degree of control over or full control over, and they approach the conversation with me as simply “sharing” or “running something by me.”

Well, the reality is if you’re coming to me and asking me to give part of my day and my brain space to the idea you’re sharing with me, and if you want my help making it happen, then you’re pitching me.  If you’re going to do this and expect me to be open to your idea then you need to have these three things in mind when you approach me (and when you approach an editor, recruiter, hiring executive, your CEO, conference organizer, etc…):

1. You absolutely need energy and passion behind your idea and it must infuse the way you present it to me.  If we’re on the phone and I can’t feel your energy then it’s much less likely that I’ll say “yes” at the end of the call. If you send me something in writing and your passion isn’t jumping off the page at me then I’m more likely to be distracted by something else that does scream “passion.”  That’s just reality. 

After all, if you’re asking me to help you bring your idea to fruition and I can’t feel your own commitment to it, then I am, in essence, taking a much greater risk by saying, “yes.”

2. The clarity of your message is critical.  Absolutely critical. I need to understand it without struggling if you are going to be successful.  Moreover, I need to be able to envision how I will communicate it and champion it to others. Because no matter my level in the organization there is someone I will need to communicate and champion it to.  Even the CEO must be able to communicate to her/his Board and shareholders why they said “yes” to funding your initiative. 

Make this easy for me up-front by presenting a crystal-clear message and you’re more likely to get me to “yes.”

3. Your pitch must be aligned with my vision.  Take the time up-front to understand what I am focused on providing for my stakeholders.  Develop a good understanding of the vision that I have for my organization and for my customers, my clients or my shareholders and of the commitment I have made to them.  Then look back at what you’re proposing to me and ensure that you see alignment.  If not, then it would be very difficult to get me to “yes.” 

Do these three requirements resonate with you? What gets you to “yes?”  Please share in the comments so we can learn from your experiences…

Please consider subscribing so you don’t miss a post…Subscribe Here to receive posts in your in-box automatically. To receive posts via “READER” Subscribe Here - thank you – I’m honored to have you as a reader!

Photo is It’s Yes I Said Yes by It’sGreg.

 
23 Comments

Posted in Executive, Leadership, Marketing, Vision

 

You’re So Vain…You Probably Think This Post is About You

23 Aug

I’ve come across a few vain executives lately.  I won’t even call them leaders because I believe when vanity comes into play real leadership goes out the window.

We all know who these executives are and what it feels like to be around them.  We start to wonder how they actually finagled their way into their executive roles, right? Because while confidence is an absolute requirement for being a leader, crossing the line to vanity wipes out all the good you’ve done in your career and leaves a very bad taste in the mouths of those who work with you, for you, and around you.

And while I have had to work with some vain execs lately I’ve also had the distinct pleasure of meeting some leaders who are so inspiring in the way they treat others that I decided to make a list of attributes that you don’t always find on a CEO’s job description, but when exhibited make these people the greatest kinds of leaders…

1. They respect my time simply because I’m a fellow human being.  If they are going to be late for an appointment with me they have their Executive Assistants alert me to this and when we do meet they apologize sincerely.  I had one CEO tell me that he absolutely hates to keep people waiting and he apologized so profusely – and so genuinely - to me for being late that I have held him in high regard ever since.

2. They respond to my correspondence graciously and in a timely manner.  This is not asking too much.  I have had CEOs of half-billion dollar companies send me very gracious emails that take less time for them to write and send than for them to involve their assistants unnecessarily.  It is so easy to be gracious and to choose kindness over rudeness.

3. These leaders understand the importance of having a Values Statement or set of Values for their organization.  Even more importantly, they understand that their role is to set an example of living these values to the highest degree, and they expect to be held accountable to this.  CEO Bill Black, who I interviewed for this post on Values as a Bridge to Vision, is a shining example of this.

4. They ask the opinion of others when appropriate and then they listen intently to the response.  They thank people for sharing their opinions and when they decide not to follow others’ advice they have the courtesy to tell them why.

5. They do what they say they’re going to do.  They come through.

6. They decide. Period.

7. They negotiate with a genuine intent to get to a win-win rather than to leave their negotiating partner feeling bloodied.

8. They are passionate about the business they’re leading.  Anything less is vanity telling them they can still lead the organization better than anyone else.

9. They have the wisdom to understand the importance of having a vision for the organization, of clearly defining and communicating it for everyone involved in bringing the vision to life, of charting the course towards the vision and of being held accountable for staying on course.

10. Underlying all of the preceding attributes is pure respect.  Real leaders have real respect for other human beings.  They desire to connect others, to give to others more than they get back, and to help others succeed simply because of the fabric of respect that underlies everything they do.

Do you disagree when it comes to leadership and vanity? What did I leave out? Please share in the comments…

Please consider subscribing so you don’t miss a post…Subscribe Here to receive posts in your in-box automatically. To receive posts via “READER” Subscribe Here - thank you – I’m honored to have you as a reader!

Photo is Vain Cupid in the Quadrangle Building at Sydney University by Jemsweb.

 
4 Comments

Posted in Executive, Leadership

 

Can We Provide Hope After a Morning of Despair?

19 Aug

Today it’s about the “Awakenings” more so than the “C-Level Strategies.”

You see, yesterday afternoon I received an email from the Principal of our High School.  He was informing the community that a high school boy – a senior – had committed suicide yesterday morning. 

It’s absolutely horrifying news.  

What makes it even more painful is that it’s the 6th suicide by a high school boy in our local community – an upscale suburb NW of Chicago - in the past three years. It simply makes no sense.

After the first few suicides occurred the community mobilized and over the past two years created an outreach program that was orchestrated by high schoolers and community leaders intent on preventing these tragedies from ever happening again.  It is now evident all over the high school and in communications throughout the school district that there are numerous opportunities for children of any age to get help dealing with their challenges – challenges of any form.

The community has even set aside one night a year for a major rally, parade, and set of concerts to generate awareness of all of these efforts and available resources, and the mood of the community was finally starting to turn – to become optimistic again given the sense of coming together and the outpouring of love that has taken place.

And then yesterday happened. 

We talk a lot as a community about what is driving these students to the brink and making them think there is no other way.

We talk about pressure – pressure to succeed, to be ranked in the top of the class, to excel at sports or music or drama in order to “stand out,” to get into a “name” college, to excel on standardized tests and at the same time they’re encouraged to “stand out” they are pressured to “fit in.”

I found myself wondering, is there anything that we as leaders can do?

Can we, as leaders, start simply by recognizing that there is enough success to go around if we all – as individuals and as businesses – find what’s in our heart and focus there?  If we spend our energy on excelling at that which we’re born to do and are passionate about, at that which makes us truly unique, then won’t there be enough differences between all of us that we can each succeed in our own way and to the degree that mirrors the effort we put in?  Can we allow ourselves to be fully aware of what others are doing but put our energies into being the very best version of ourselves?

Can we start being vocal about the fact that it’s ok to fail?  That it’s ok to not be perfect? Can we talk more about Edison’s illustrious failures and how he learned from each of them and spend less time putting leaders with one success up on pedestals?

Should we talk more about fear…fear of not being taken seriously, of not living up to others’ expectations – including our Board, our teams, our shareholders - of not living up to our own expectations, of being disrespected or hurt, or worse just ignored in our industry…and how this fear is a normal part of life for all of us, even when we’re successful?

Should we talk about our company values and how they’re the compass we should be following? And should our values always include respect – for each other and for our own needs as valued individuals? 

And should we talk about hope – and how whatever we sell or market or create provides it in some small way for someone? 

And if we did all of these things in our businesses would the messages seep into our communities and then into the country and the world at large, and if so, would it have an impact on those who are watching most closely and learning from us?  Those whose future we are shaping each and every day with our actions?  Would it inspire them, in some small way, to think differently…to have hope?

I have absolutely no answers today. Only questions. But there must be something we can do…right?

Please share your insights, they are genuinely appreciated…

Photo is HOPE by Madmoiselle Lavender.

Please consider subscribing so you don’t miss a post…SUBSCRIBE here to receive posts in your in-box automatically. To receive posts via “READER” subscribe here - thank you – I’m honored to have you as a reader!

~

Readers – as I mentioned last week, I’d be honored if you’d consider taking about 30 seconds to let the SxSW Conference Organizers know that you think the proposals I have to speak at the conference are worthy of their consideration.

The first proposal is titled, “Conquer Your Kryptonite: Superpowers Fueling Kick-Ass Business Deals!” and I would be presenting with my dear, new friend Judy Martin. Just click the thumbs-up button you’ll see here if you think it’s worthy of consideration – thank you!

The second proposal is titled, “Resources Roulette: Winning Social Strategies for Shrinking Budgets” with master social media consultant Connie Reece.  We’d be honored to receive your thumbs-up here as well!

The conference organizers look at the number of votes to gauge interest in these topics.  We appreciate your support and I hope to have the opportunity to meet many of you at the conference in March!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart…

 
29 Comments

Posted in Leadership, Personal

 

3 “Easy” Steps to Having the Midas Touch

16 Aug

A friend once told me that I had the “Midas Touch.”  At the time, seemingly everything I was involved with was “turning to gold” in some way.

The term came up again recently and I began to reflect back on that time in my life.  I was musing on what was so unique about it and why it was that all parts of my life were not only in sync but ”firing on all cylinders” so to speak.

It was so easy to see when I began to reflect…sometimes clarity comes from very simple reflection…

I strongly believe these three “easy” steps (insights) apply to each of us as individuals, and to our businesses as well:

1. Know who you are

Do you?

I know, this seems so obvious and “easy” – but do you really know who you are, what your strengths are that make you shine brighter than anyone else in the room when you tap into them, what you’re so passionate about that it will inspire a genuine smile as you eagerly jump out of bed in the morning, and what your ideal surroundings – in terms of colleagues, friends, teams, challenges, culture, values, and goal size – look like when you are at your most energetic self?

Many of us don’t – or we spend years trying to figure this out.

And this seems like an obvious directive for businesses as well – know who you are.  But how many businesses do you know that seemingly have no vision, mission or direction…that seem to be running in place, not really sure who they are anymore? Exactly.

2. Know who you serve

As individuals we each are inspired in different ways.  Does your energy level increase or decrease when you serve – or think about serving – the following groups: your children, family members who are ill, students, executives, book lovers, people who need direction in their lives, people who just need coffee (and donuts!), small business clients, Fortune 50 clients, overachievers, technology buffs, people in love, people in disputes, athletes, writers, dancers, I can go on and on…

The same question applies to companies – how many have lost sight of who they serve or *should* serve – who they serve best and who they really don’t serve well at all…?

We can’t be all things to all people, and neither can companies.  Serving those who push your energy and passion meter to “max” can make all the difference in your business and your life!

3. Live your truth

This is the ultimate secret – the secret that’s so obvious and yet so elusive.  Go live your truth.  Go live your answers to numbers one and two above – live them fully, energetically, passionately and without apology or regret. 

The truth is that this can be nearly impossible to achieve, right? The truth is that these three “easy” steps are anything but.  Why is that?  What would it take for us to overcome the hurdles to living our truth – as individuals and as businesses?  Facing our fears, perhaps…?  Getting beyond our short-term thinking and developing an inspiring vision?

Here’s the payoff: those who truly do live their truth, who know who they are and what ignites their passion, who serve those whom they are meant to serve, and who live their lives with genuine purpose experience the Midas Touch – the ability to turn what they are working on or what they are creating into gold of rare form – not just money but blessings and love and pure joy and health to the highest degree. 

The Midas Touch is ignited from within.  Have you ignited yours?

Please share…that’s what the comments are for since we can’t get together for cocktails…

Photo is Midas Touch by Amani Hasan

~

Readers – as I mentioned last week, I’d be honored if you’d consider taking about 30 seconds to let the SxSW Conference Organizers know that you think the proposals I have to speak at the conference are worthy of their consideration.

The first proposal is titled, “Conquer Your Kryptonite: Superpowers Fueling Kick-Ass Business Deals!” and I would be presenting with my dear, new friend Judy Martin. Just click the thumbs-up button you’ll see here if you think it’s worthy of consideration – thank you!

The second proposal is titled, “Resources Roulette: Winning Social Strategies for Shrinking Budgets” with master social media consultant Connie Reece.  We’d be honored to receive your thumbs-up here as well!

The conference organizers look at the number of votes to gauge interest in these topics.  We appreciate your support and I hope to have the opportunity to meet many of you at the conference in March!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart… :)

 
8 Comments

Posted in Career, Executive, Leadership, Marketing, Vision

 
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