Goals and why we should set them.

I was thinking the other day about some of the goals I had set myself last year and if I had actually met any of them? Well some I did and some I didn’t but hey you can’t get too down if they all don’t come through, the thing to remember is if you don’t set any you will just wander along life’s path with no real direction or purpose, pretty heavy stuff I know but true none the less.
I generally make four or five goals and then write them down and stick them on the fridge or copy them and pin them up in the office but this time I decided to make a desktop wallpaper for all my computers, home and office so I would see them every day without fail.
I find if they are in full view then it’s a constant reminder of why I do what I do, don’t get me wrong I love what I do but like any job, profession or vocation we have to be careful that we don’t become too bogged down with the ‘detail’ and forget why we love what we do.
So have a think about the goals you can set for yourself such as:
•    Be happy
•    More money
•    Holidays
•    Help people

The list is endless but the point is it has to be your list and what’s important to you, nobody else’s.

Let me know how you get on?

photo credit: KMiDigital - The picture is an example for you to follow.

Negativity and how to deal with it.

As most of you know I have run my blog for a little while now, I have to confess that it hasn’t been added to in a while and as those of you who know me realise I have had rather a lot on lately, but there it is none the less. One of the things I like to do is help people when I can but what can you do when someone who doesn’t really know you or what you do make comments about how you earn you’re living, well part of it at least?

To give you a little background I run workshops and seminars for the Chamber of Commerce on getting the best out of LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook here in the West and sometimes out in Furness and so far its been a mixed bag, Cumbrian businesses seem to be taking a little to catch on what its about and how it can help, whereas some of the talks I have given in other parts of the country have been seized on and lots of the advice I have give has been acted upon and I still have regular contact with attendees and give them help and advice.

Now one of the things I say to them is if you get negative feedback or comments on something you do or have said don’t worry as it’s usually a mixture of jealousy and ignorance of what you do or what you have achieved.

But if this does happen here are a few tips to deal with it:

• Take it offline – don’t play this out in public as there is never anything to gain by this as either they or more importantly you look foolish or amateurish.
• Find out what you have said or done to warrant this negativity and if you can’t then the best thing to do is either stop following or block them. I have to say I don’t really like this approach as I feel everyone has the right to their opinion.
• If there is no other way to sort the negativity out then block them and move on as some people are there just for controversy and to create a reaction and lets be honest life is too short to get involved in this, or maybe you enjoy it, make up your own mind.
• Life is for sharing but negativity is not!

There you have it just a couple of tips to get you started, remember jealousy and ignorance are a terrible affliction and best avoided at all costs.

Have you experienced this on any of the big three platforms, if so let me know.

Photo credit: pasukaru76

Social Networking and how fantastic it really is

I am going to start off with a story of a great dad who was, as all siblings know, the best dad in the world, well mine was!
He died on Tuesday leaving a large hole in all the remaining families’ lives but what really astonished me, unlike when my mum died about six years ago, how the likes of Facebook and blogging have played such a major part in his death and letting people know.

Facebook
After dad died I put a message on Facebook and I was astonished by the response from friends, and they are friends, and sympathy I and the family received, this wasn’t possible six years ago as these types of websites were all still in their infancy or even thought of and letting large group of friends and family was virtually impossible.

Whether you think it should be used for this is obviously your opinion but just looking around Facebook and seeing how many pages there are for people who lose their lives either too soon, suddenly, in tragic or horrific circumstances or our brave service men and women give me hope that the world is better for these platforms.

Blogging
Obviously as you are reading this it is something that we couldn’t have done a few years ago, well that’s not strictly true I know but getting your message out was really difficult as early bloggers found.

Social Networking is a powerful tool so use it wisely.

Anyway if this post has spurred you to write your story, or part of it at least, then set up your blog and let the world know through FB and Twitter, let me know how you go?

Network like a Jedi

Over the course of the last week or so I have ran two seminars and one workshop on getting the best out of LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, which have not only been enlightening but very rewarding. The people I have met have all been fantastic and I am sure they got as much out of it as I did.

The term ‘Network like a Jedi’ was said at a workshop and I thought that’s fantastic and just about sums it all up and I wish I had thought of it.

Anyway the purpose of this post is to share with you some of the things I think are important when using these fantastic platforms and even though some of the points are old ones they are, none the less good ones that bare repeating.

LinkedIn

• Create a killer profile and remember its not a CV but what you want to do now and in the future and remember to add a photo, yes it is important
• Remember that you are talking to real people with real feelings
• Use the people search to find who you are looking for colleagues, past and present, in fact anyone you can think of that can help you and your business
• Build your network with people of similar interests and goals
• Recommend and ask for recommendations.

Twitter

• Your profile is key so think about it
• Be cautious on who you follow and think about the reasons you are
• Download Tweetdeck, you won’t be able to do without it
• One of the quickest ways to get your business and its products or services out there 
• Perfect for customer service

Facebook

• A great tool for finding out what clients and associates do for pleasure
• Great to use as an ice breaker before a meeting, “how was the skiing trip” etc
• Fill out your profile completely to earn trust.
• Create a business account if you don’t already have one.
• Post business updates on your wall. Focus on business activities, such as “Working with Widgets Company on new web site redesign.”

Everyone of these comments came from the seminars and workshops proving what a great source of knowledge and inspiration they really are.
Here’s to the next round and let me know how you use the 'big three'?

photo credit: Stella Dauer

Is it just me...?

Now it isn't very often I have a rant but I feel the need today. I got into the office this morning with the sole intention of going through my presentation notes for Friday's workshop, so I switched off the annoying sound that my phone makes when an email arrives, you just have to look don’t you? But even after making the office sound proof all I have had is a constant flow of automated phone calls trying to sell me everything from webspace to a gold plated pen if I sign up for something or other.

It really gets my goat that these people are no respecters of privacy at all. I have been known, on occasion, to humour one of the guys on the other end of the phone, as my daughter did a similar thing as she was going through university, she told me how hard and soul destroying it can be to have the phone put down on them. But it isn’t even a person on the end of the phone that I can have a conversation with its an annoying drone.

Wouldn’t it be much better to maybe send an email, that way I can quickly add it to my junk folder. Surprise, surprise I have a business so I know what a nightmare marketing can be and how difficult it can also be to get your message across, but this just leaves me cold and I am sure I am not alone in this.

Right there’s my rant for the year…hopefully! Now back to work.

Let me know if this irritates you too and other guerrilla tactics that are being used to try and grab our attention.

photo credit: oneofsomany

Couldn't have said it better myself!

Take five minutes and tell me its not true.

Generating Fans - continued

In the last post I asked if you had started a fan page on either Facebook or other platforms such as LinkedIn or Twitter.
If you haven’t then you should seriously think about it and if you have then well done you are heading in the right direction.

As I type this I am listening to a classic rock internet radio station from America not too long ago that wouldn’t have been possible, but what does that have to do with this you ask. Well after you have your page up and running, instructions how to do that are here, you should decide who you are going to target:

• Is your business a global business?
• Is your business a local business?
• Is your business both?
• What is your goal? 
• This could be to make money by increased sales
• Attract more visitors to your site to give them information

Whatever this is you have to have a goal or it’s all meaningless.

So how do you work out your strategy to get people to your ‘page’ well use the above as a starting point and then re work your plan and we will discuss this in more detail next time.

What is your plan for 2010, let me know?

Image credit: Keith McMean