Your Connections

How many of you our there keep any sort of record about the people you meet in a business situation and what do you do with that information?

If you do how do you do it, and if you don't...why not?

Its the best way to make new contacts and keep in touch with what is going on. I personally use Salesforce, its the free personal version, yeah some of the bells and whistles aren't there but hey its does for what I want it to do. The best thing it does is keep everything all in once place so I can change details at the drop of a hat. Now you would be forgiven for thinking "big deal" but look at it this way you attend networking events, you attend seminars you even meet people in the street and do you keep a record of who they are and what you might be able to help them with?

Business cards are a great source of information and most people don't even look at them regularly never mind act on them. Categorise them into hot, warm and cold leads and work to make the warm ones hot and the cold ones warm, move them up the list. If you keep a contacts list make sure it's up to date and being used.

Let me know what you use and how it works for you?

Photo credit: digitalTool

Community Spirit

Do you belong to a community?

I was thinking the other day, after a conversation with a friend, that isn't it strange how we all belong to different communities and never really know it, or there again maybe we do.
Here's an example of what I mean. As I sit typing this post I am aware that I can upload photos from my Blackberry to Facebook and Twitter, this can also be done from an iPhone or any other smartphone.

My point is that whether we use a Blackberry or iPhone or any other device for that matter we use them either because that's all we have ever used or we have asked our 'community' which is the best one. For all of us, depending on which community we are in, this can be an emotive choice.

I have an iPod which I listen to constantly, now I am not saying that my iPod is any better or worse that anything from another manufacturer but its strange that I chose that particular brand and model, I think this is all to do with communities and which one we belong to and how it makes us feel to belong to that community. There is something special about owning an iPod or an iPhone or a Blackberry and belonging to that community.

Kevin Roberts, CEO of Saachi and Saachi started a community called Lovemarks (link to site) and this is all based on making your brand 'lovable' by your clients, a fantastic concept and a great way for your clients to 'spread the word' for your company.

I would be interested to know which community you belong to?

photo credit: amsterdammed

Unlocking the future

Having just read Chris Brogan's excellent blog on 'No locks No Gates' (link to blog) I was reminded of when I started my design business, KMiDigital, and the amount of people who said, "did you know such and such has a very similar company?" No I didn't and to be honest I wasn't really that bothered as this was MY company and MY ideas on how it would operate and function.

So with this in mind are all businesses the same, churning out the same dull things day after day or has individuality came to the top and entrepreneurs are now the ones setting the standard, or has this always been the case.

Just like some of the art work Joshua Davis (link to site) has produced using flash, who would have thought this possible 5 or 10 years ago? Or that Hillman Curtis would transcend from designer to filmmaker (link to site) or has he, it could be that they have both just taken their chosen medium to greater heights and if these guys can do this then why can't the rest of us?

Photo Credit: cogdogblog

Are these the new evangelists...?

If you had to choose...!!

Now I am not saying that these guys are the new Billy Grahame's for this new and exciting world but after watching Bob Proctor on YouTube

and taking a look at his website and what they tell you they will give, sometimes for free you I am not so sure?

It seems that when the world is finding things a little difficult, the business community especially at the moment, these types of 'evangelists' come to the fore, now I am not saying this is a bad thing and what they seem to offer seems credible and might work if the testimonials are anything to go by but should we believe everything they say or is it just smoke and mirrors?