A new chapter in your book of Life

I have no doubt that you (as well as I) have recently spent time reflecting on the year that was 2009 and the first decade of the new millennium. We are a little older and wiser, many people have entered and exited our lives as business associates or co-workers, and we have experienced a great deal of personal accomplishment and opportunity.

So if each year was another chapter in your book of Life, how will you start your next chapter?

Resolve to be the best you can be.
Resolve to take chances.
Resolve to never settle for mediocrity.

And if you must, sing this familiar song:

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne ?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.


Best wishes for a healthy and prosperous New Year!

-Darren

Effective presentation techniques

If one of your New Year's resolutions is to become a more confident and effective public speaker, you will quickly learn it will take a lot of practise and persistence.

Not everyone was born to be a smooth-talking, confident and engaging public speaker. Phew. That should make you feel more at ease. However your roles may have changed and you now find yourself having to make presentations to the media, share holders or other interest groups. Are you prepared?

Effective public speaking is an art that can be learned. You must first take stock of your strengths and weaknesses.
Comfort Level:
Do you get nervous at the thought of standing up in front of others? Or, are you comfortable giving presentations?

Voice Tone:
Do you speak too fast or have a monotone delivery? Or, are you able to control your voice to make it the most effective during a presentation?

Presentation:
Do you stumble with a script that is written and prepared? Or, are you able to make a presentation as if you had rehearsed the script for days?

Audience Engagement:
Does your audience seem to lose interest after only a few lines of your presentation? Or are you able to draw your audience into your presentation and keep them engaged?

When it comes to audience engagement, use these words of advice from Author and Public Speaking Coach, Alan Stevens:
1) Insight. Your audience expects you to be well-informed on your topic. You need to be general enough to get your ideas across, but show that you have an insight that no-one else has come up with.

2) Analogies/Parallels. You need to be able to demonstrate how a current situation relates to one that has gone before. This makes it much easier for your audience to understand.

3) Evidence. It's no good making statements that you can't justify. You need to provide examples to support your argument, rather than to make your argument.

4) Endorsement. This is like calling an expert witness in a court case. If you can cite (other) acknowledged experts who agree with you, it makes your case much stronger.

5) Humour. This is not (definitely not) joke-telling. Leave that to the stand-up comedians. Your humour should be natural and in context with the speech.

And finally, a few tips that will help you feel more at ease with your next public speaking engagement.
- Prepare a script and rehearse it many times. Practise in front of objective but supportive friends or family members. Allow for a few minor edits along the way, but at least you will be prepared. Try to stick with the script as much as you can.
- Someone else prepared your script. These are the most tricky because the person writing the script is not familiar with your delivery. So take the time to personalize the script (within reason) and be sure the font is big enough so you can read it.
- Arrive early to your presentation. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the room and your surroundings. Even if there are only a few people in the room, test the sound system to be sure everything is working.
- Eye contact. It is very important to make eye contact with as many people in the room as you can. If you are too nervous, look to people you recognize in the crowd. This should make you more comfortable.
- Water is your best friend. Keep a glass of room temperature water close by. You will find other liquids like soda and fruit juices will create a lot of phlegm while coffee and tea can dry out your vocal chords. Just remember, too much water might cause the need to make a quick trip to the washroom just before your presentation.
- Control your nerves. Before making your presentation take a few deep breaths and slowly exhale.
- Slow down and focus on key words. If you find that you talk too rapidly, you must make a conscious effort to slow down. Take the time to stop on key words or phrases in your presentation. Allow the audience a moment to evaluate the point you are making.
- Open and close with your strongest statement. You need to earn their interest at the beginning and you need to leave your audience with something to remember at the end.
- Video tape or record your presentation. This one usually hurts to watch but if you want to become more effective in your presentations, you need to be able to critique your own performance. All the top presenters do.

Good luck and happy presenting in the New Year.

-Darren

To view Alan Stevens blog click here.

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6 steps to creating engaging content for Social Media

What is the best way to engage people to your social media updates? Simple. Offer something that is real.

In my 25 years in radio both on the air and as a manager and coach, it was my job to create interesting content for my listeners. Each day prior to a 5 or 6 hour shift, I would spend approximately 2 hours to prepare my show with relevant information. And where do you suppose I gathered this information? By spending more time reading newspapers, watching TV shows, listening to the other radio stations and paying attention to what my friends and society were talking about.

The same principles should apply to you when you are preparing to post content on your social media sites.

Here are 5 easy steps to think about in the creation of engaging content for your sites.
1) "What's in it for me?". Think of content that reflects the wants and needs of the reader - not of yourself.
2) Celebrate your successes. Go ahead, brag about a success story but remember point number one just above; it is not all about you...there has to be a pay off for the reader.
3) Be current and relevant. Talk about your favorite television show or favorite newspaper columnist. It demonstrates that you are plugged-in to the real world.
4) Talk about other people. In radio we called this a 'shout-out'. Mention people you met today in person or online. Use their online name (for Twitter).
5) Be real. Your close friends know the real you. Now here is your opportunity for the online world to get to know the real you as well. Talk about things that matter in your personal life.

Here is one more.
6) Never be boring. A good friend and mentor named Valerie Geller has been coaching top media talent around the globe for years. This one point has always resonated with me and with the thousands of personalities that she has worked with. Never be boring.

Did you find these tips helpful? Once you employ even a few of these suggestions, I am sure your readers will find you more engaging and will return to your website, blog or social media site more often.

-Darren
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Even Santa Claus uses Social Media

As a kid, I remember writing letters to Santa and leaving cookies and milk for the Jolly Old Elf on Christmas eve. Do you remember listening to the radio and hearing reports from NORAD who tracked Santa's journey from the North Pole to all the countries around the world as he visited all good boys and girls? I do not know about you, but it was all part of the magic of Christmas.

Times have changed and Santa and his staff have certainly stayed on top of all the new forms of communication.

You can find Santa Claus on Twitter.
You can add a Santa Claus application on Facebook.

And you can now track Santa online. Beginning at 2am Eastern time on December 24, Santa's location will be tracked all over the world.

With its partnership with Google in 2007, NORAD (North American Aerospace Defence Command) displays Santa's yearly journey in Google Earth and Maps.

Want to ensure your children are tucked into bed before Santa arrives at your house? Check his location at: www.noradsanta.org

NORAD will also videotape Santa inflight with animated video courtesy of its "Santa Cams".

On Twitter, follow the same Santa updates: NoradSanta.

With content provided by the Calgary Sun.

Merry Christmas,
Darren

Facebook, Twitter; How Linked-In are you, Part 3 of 3

Where do you get started?

In this three part series, I have demonstrated the growing popularity of social media/social networking not only for personal use but also for business applications.

Click here to read Part 1; the statistics
Click here to read Part 2; the Phoenix Suns success story

And now in the final chapter, where do you and your business get started in Social media/social networking.

The important thing I recommend right away is develop a social media code of conduct for your business. Like a letter of confidentiality that employees sign when they first join your company, this code should be in place to protect you, your brand and your employees.
• Do not use foul language
• Do not slander or berate a competitor
• Do not publish confidential content or other proprietary information

Once you get started, do not let your social network sites get old and boring. I recommend updating your Facebook status at least once a day. Facebook users come to see information and updates from as many friends as they can. Do not bombard your Facebook fans with too many updates each day.
Conversely, Twitter is equivalent to a river of news. Twitter users expect to be up to date and the first to learn of exciting new trends, stories, offers and engaging content. Twitter accounts should be updated no less than once a day but update as often as you can.
Linked In can also be used as an individual or company to connect with other professionals, conduct surveys, and post and search for new career opportunities.

All of these social networks can and should be used in connection with your current business media plan. Do you blog? Use social media to broadcast your message and link back to your blog, which is an extension of your main website. Do you have a Loyal Client club? Use social media to connect with the existing members and reach out to new members. Create exclusive social media contests or offers.

Can you take a compliment? Can you take criticism? We all love the compliments but plan to receive comments that are not positive in nature. How you respond to them is the key. Everyone has an opinion.

And finally, do not panic if you do not get an immediate response. The key ingredient in social networking is 'social'. You have to develop a relationship with your followers; they have to get to know you and what you represent. However if you offer engaging content, your new followers will more than likely spread the word about you and your company. This will also bring more new followers to your social network.

The future is here. Now is the time to be creative and use the power of social media to your advantage.

-Darren
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Facebook, Twitter; How Linked-In are you, Part 2 of 3

Yesterday, I shared with you statistical data showing the increased popularity of social media and social networking.

To read part 1 of this series, click here.

Today, I would like to share a success story.

The most successful businesses are using social networking to;
-provide engaging content (information, offers, and opportunities) to their fans,
-showcase opportunities for new products and services,
-create two-way communication with their fans,
-exclusive ‘back stage’ offerings,
-broadcast a media release,
-conduct surveys and questionnaires,
-generate revenue by driving traffic back to the main website.

A great story I read from the Phoenix Suns who, just 18 months ago did not know what Twitter was. However their organization was very media savvy having won the NBA Web site of the year award in 1997 and had great success with YouTube and MySpace for additional reach to their fans.
To get the ball rolling, the Suns signed up 20 to 30 employees and players including Shaquille O'Neal to a Twitter account. Shaq now has over 2.5 million followers on Twitter.

Jeramie McPeek, the Suns vice president of digital offered this comment:
“We all fell in love with it for connecting with our fan base,” McPeek says. “We quickly embraced it. It was a shift of mindset. … Our fans were not necessarily coming to Suns.com, but they were pulling up Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube. We need to be in those places; we need to be where the fans are.”
With over 60,000 Facebook fans, The Suns use their Facebook account as well to keep their fans informed by not bombarded with too much information.

Tomorrow, in part 3, tips and suggestions how you can get started in social media.

-Darren
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Facebook, Twitter; How Linked-In are you, Part 1 of 3

The internet world is all a twitter about the increase in popularity of social media.
Facebook tripled in size from 125 million users to 350 million.
Twitter grew from a mere 4 million users to 40 million users in 2009.
Linked In has blossomed to a group of 53 million experienced professionals around the globe.

Are you using these social networks to grow your profile and extend the on-line profile of your business?

If you have not yet added one of these social networks as an additional marketing tool for your business, you’re not too late.

In a study released October 27, 2009 by Ipsos Reid, close to 90% of all Canadians have internet access at home.

The study found that access at home is almost universal for those under 55 years of age as 89% of those aged 18 to 34 and 87% of those aged 35 to 54 have Internet access at home. In comparison, only 69% of those aged 55+ have access at home.

It goes without saying that more and more Canadians are using the internet at home to engage in social networking.

“Even in difficult economic times, Canadians understand that having Internet access is essential in today’s society,” notes study author Mark Laver, Associate Vice President with Ipsos Reid. “Internet access is critical to finding employment, it can be used to save money, for paying bills, finding deals, and as a form of entertainment. It has become so important to the lives of Canadians, that in some areas of the country, Internet access is almost identical to home telephone access.”

Tomorrow, in part 2, I will pass along a story of a sports team who are using Facebook and Twitter very successfully as an extension of their digital brand.

-Darren
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New Facebook privacy controls; do a quick check

Facebook, the worlds #1 social media outlet recently made changes to user privacy control settings.
Founder Mark Zuckerberg made a statement last week indicating these enhanced privacy controls were requested by many of the 350 million users around the globe. These changes will put the control of who can access your profile, pictures and status updates in your hands.

The changes are great - but you should take a moment to check the privacy settings on your own account on the new system.
Click on Settings> Privacy Settings> Profile Information
This is where you can control who can see your account and how much information is visible, such as profile, information, pictures, etc.

Something you will notice; you have control over who can see your Status Updates. You now have the option to send your broadcast your Status Updates to everyone, to only your friends, or to friends of friends. Again, you can set this privacy control inside the Privacy Settings area of your account.

Another change; you can control whether you permit Facebook to publish your name as a 'fan' of a advertising banner. To check your settings, click on Settings> Account Settings> Facebook Ads.

One last suggestion while you are doing this little house-keeping, you might want to clean out (delete) any 'questionable' photos...you know the ones I am talking about. Sure, you can prevent non-friends from seeing these pictures, but what happens if your new boss becomes a new Facebook friend? I might have just saved you an embarrasing moment.

Click here to add me as a Facebook friend.

Questions or comments? Drop me a note.

Click here to sign up to recieve my free email newsletter

-Darren

Is anybody out there

The answer is yes.
Ipsos Reid confirms in a Canadian study released October 27, 2009, 82% of all Canadians now have internet access at home.

From their media release:
“Even in difficult economic times, Canadians understand that having Internet access is essential in today’s society,” notes study author Mark Laver, Associate Vice President with Ipsos Reid. “Internet access is critical to finding employment, it can be used to save money, for paying bills, finding deals, and as a form of entertainment. It has become so important to the lives of Canadians, that in some areas of the country, Internet access is almost identical to home telephone access.”

The study found that access at home is almost universal for those under 55 years of age as 89% of those aged 18 to 34 and 87% of those aged 35 to 54 have Internet access at home. In comparison, only 69% of those aged 55+ have access at home.

Laver continues, “The older generation is the fastest growing segment of online users, quickly catching up to the younger generations in their adoption of the Internet. By comparison, in Q1, 2006 only one-half (57%) of those aged 55+ had Internet access.”

Everyday, more and more people are looking for you and your products. What does your on-line presence say about your product, your company, your business, your brand?

-Darren

50 reasons why your business needs a Media Coach

What is a Media Coach?
How will a Media Coach benefit your business?

Here are (at least) 50 reasons why your business needs to hire a Media Coach:

1) What is your product and who is your target audience?
2) Are you only using radio, television or newspaper advertising?
3) Is your business on Facebook?
4) Do you do a lot of speeches and presentations?
5) How much traffic do you send to your website?
6) What is the key message of your business/company?
7) Who is preparing your media releases?
8) Has your business/company experienced a recent restructure?
9) Are you using E-mail marketing to reach your customers?
10) Who is updating your on-line content?
11) Who are your contacts at your local television stations?
12) Is your business on Twitter?
13) Are you an effective presenter?
14) When giving presentations, do you know how to use microphone to your advantage?
15) Are you on Linked In?
16) Do you have friends in the media?
17) How accessible are you to the media?
18) Who prepares information about your business, and is it current?
19) Do you Blog?
20) How many new customers/clients do you see at your business?
21) Are you sending the right message to your target audience?
22) How often do you update your on-line content?
23) How are you sending your media releases?
24) Do you have a Crisis management strategy?
25) Who are your contacts at your local radio stations?
26) Does your staff know what to say in a time of crisis?
27) Do you speak comfortably in front of media cameras and microphones?
28) Are you prepared to answer questions from the media?
29) What is your Social media policy?
30) What are you telling your media friends?
31) What is your staff saying about your business to their on-line friends?
32) Do you advertise on-line?
33) How effective is your presentations to the media?
34) Do you have a biography and picture to send at a moments notice, and is it current?
35) Is your business on Twitter?
36) How are you presenting your message at a media conference?
37) Do you have writers that prepare your presentations?
38) Can you read and understand what is written and prepared for you?
39) Who are your contacts at your local newspapers?
40) How often do you communicate with your local radio stations?
41) Are your media friends calling you first for comments on relatable issues?
42) Does your target audience respond to your current media marketing?
43) Do you advertise on Facebook?
44) How often do you communicate with your local television stations?
45) Do you post pictures of events or local media stories on your website?
46) Are you prepared to talk to the media about your business right now?
47) Does your website offer content that is easy to understand?
48) Do the media run audio and/or video clips from your media conferences?
49) How are you presenting your message to shareholders and partners?
50) How often do you communicate with your Facebook friends?

And one more for good measure:
51) When will you be calling Darren Robson at Speak Media Consulting?

The way we use Media is rapidly changing. How are you keeping up?

How social are you?

How much are you using Facebook, or Twitter or Linked In?
Many people comment on my Social networking 'updates' and have said how much they enjoy the updates and how much they look forward to reading what I have to say. It is a simple solution: Engagement. Offer something interesting, interactive, current and demonstrates more about you and your brand.

Who cares about updates that state "I'm going to the Dentist", or "Sitting in traffic jam".
But what happens if you would have written:
"I wonder what color tooth brush my Dentist will send home with me today".

Or,
"Does anyone in Mytown know what's the hold up on Spooner street?"

These kinds of updates offer more insight on what you are thinking and, in these cases, will encourage others to join the conversation.

A friend of mine asked "How much time do you spend on Social Media sites each week?" My response; at least 2 hours a week, Monday to Friday.

Why? Because I am engaged to what other people have to offer. I find myself logging in several times a day and getting a quick update on what my friends are doing and what others are talking about.

How much is too much?
Social Media can be addicting. There is such a thing as being 'too' plugged in to sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
If you can update your Facebook status with something engaging at least once a day, you are doing well.
If you can update your Twitter account with an engaging Tweet at least twice a day, you are doing well.
If you are updating your accounts more frequently, I applaud you. Just keep them engaging.
Where you lose the connection with your social network is when you let your accounts go stale; no updates, no comments, no interest. Your account will still remain active however you will notice that others will not be paying much attention to you anymore.

The thing to remember, while sites like Facebook have been around for several years, there are people who are just now jumping on to that social networking train. Sometimes we forget to look after our new social friends. Invite them in to your social network, introduce them to the other 'cool kids' in your group. Who knows - they might know other interesting and social people that you will want to know.

Isn't that what being social is all about?

-Darren

Are you engaging or on autopilot?

Greg Johnson is a Radio Programmer in Fort McMurray, Alberta. I have had the pleasure of working with Greg and have experienced his dedication and witnessed his creative mind. While this article was originally written for the benefit of Radio broadcasters, it has many applications for just about every employee of every industry, big or small.
Here is his article.


As I flew home the other day from Edmonton, Westjet reinforced some of the fundamentals of radio that have been preached since Marconi.

The BASICS.
The flight attendant came over the intercom - blasé and monotone (think Eeyore) - and delivered the spiel. You know: how to do up your seatbelt, how to suck oxygen in case of an emergency. As an attendant she's delivered that spiel 1001 times this week alone. But wait. What if I had been flying for the first time? I would have never heard the spiel before, and the information would be very informative and compelling. Plus, there were some new jokes that I hadn't heard before (something about turning off your electronic devices: cell phones, lap tops, George Foreman Grills). But, with her less than upbeat delivery, she glossed over all her jokes and the humour fell flat.

If you sound bored - you ARE boring. When they do the safety spiel, we think "blah blah blah". Listen to how it's delivered. There is no emotion. No attempt to make it sparkle ... therefore I'm making no attempt to listen. Think there's no way to make the safety spiel interesting?

What are you doing to make the basics leap through the radio? Make them count. Traffic & Weather. Time & Temp. Station ID and your Name. You'll deliver it endless times throughout your show. Are you blasting through them or giving the Basics their due? Someone has just gotten into their vehicle and is hearing it for the first time. Make it sound like you're saying it for the first time. That Rappin' Flight Attendant clip? Might have been the first time you've seen it. Betcha he's been doing that for 3 flights / day for months. But he delivered it like the first time.

Quite honestly, no one is worth listening to if they don't sound like they're having fun.

Don't LIE.
The weather was awful. Snow, slush & wind. I expected delays. All the Departure boards projected "On Time". The Captain made no mention of delays. When it came time to de-ice the plane, the Captain came over the intercom and said, "This should only take 10 minutes". Problem is, it didn't. It took 40 minutes. BIG DIFFERENCE. And not only did he lie about the time frame, there was no update on what the hold up was until after we were making our way to the runway.

If you're going to do something on the show, then DO IT. You are making a promise to the listener. Saying "a couple of minutes" or "in a bit" is not only vague, but has different meanings to different people. "@ 7:40" or "in 10 minutes" is concrete.

The other point is immediacy. The pilot is my information source. As passengers we were visibly agitated, and the pilot made no attempt to update us on our status. In radio, we are the eyes and ears - and we have the ability to provide up-to-the-second information. Don't ignore the needs of our "passengers". "Air Canada" is only a couple dial positions away.

Sometimes We Need to Be SERIOUS.
The Pilots introduced themselves as "Neil & Matt at the front of the plane". Call me old fashioned, but I'd at least like to know that it's "Captain Neil and Co-Pilot Matt in the cockpit". "Hey everyone it's Neil & Matt" … they sound like the new design team on HGTV. It irked me that the pilot was joking around. Was he going to do some rolls and loops in the sky?

Sometimes we need to be serious, human and sincere. Amber Alert … stick to the script. River Break 2009 … flooding is not funny. Ask Manitoba. Know your role in certain situations. People will come to us for serious information and a quick joy buzzer gag could kill all credibility.

If you went to see a new doctor and he came into the examination room and said, "Hey there -- I'm Rick!" … I doubt you'd even stick around to hear the glove snap.

Don't Be THAT Guy Who Reclines His Seat.

I'm sure I could find some radio analogy here … but the truth is planes are packing us in and we ain't getting any thinner. If you recline, you're a prick. I only wish I had my 2 year old with me to kick your seat for the entire flight.

Greg Johnson
Program Director
COUNTRY 93.3 / ROCK 97.9
Fort McMurray, AB
w. 780.743.2246
f. 780.791.7250
greg.johnson@rci.rogers.com

Thank you Greg.
-Darren

Tiger Woods not on par with Media

Tiger Woods is undoubtedly one of the worlds greatest athletes. He is worth millions and is adored by even more around the globe. Now all eyes are on this fearless legend not by his actions on the golf course but because of his actions, or lack there of, following his car crash early Friday morning, November 27, 2009.

Allow me to quickly provide you with the timeline of events:
Friday around 2:25am; Tiger crashes his SUV into a fire hydrant and then a tree while attempting to leave his Florida home.
Friday afternoon around 3:30pm; some 13 hours later, news of this crash hit the media. Not many details of the crash were available and no comments were made by Tiger Woods.
Saturday; no comments from the great one, only a flurry of speculation by the media.
Sunday afternoon; Tiger releases a statement on his website stating the accident was his fault, his wife Elin was not to blame, and that this was a private matter and wanted to keep it that way. He even declined to be interviewed by the local Police.
Monday morning; Tiger announces his withdrawal from his own golf tournament this week and does not plan to play golf until the New Year.

Where did Tiger go wrong? Silence.
Recently, many celebrities including David Letterman have learned the easiest way to control a situation is to come clean, tell the truth and admit the mistake. Everyone makes mistakes. Own up to them and move on. Instead, Tiger's silence has opened the doors for more negative comment and more harm to his squeaky-clean good name. We are living in the 'now' generation. We do not want to wait for answers, we want them now. If we do not get the answers we are seeking, we will look to any source to provide the information. This is how rumours grow rampant.

In a time of crisis, follow these 5 steps and control the situation:
1) Use the media to your advantage
As soon as you are able, call a media conference and explain as much information as you can without getting into private details.
2) Prepare a statement
When giving your account of the crisis, you will be glad that you have prepared a statement in advance. Camera flashes, microphones and the excitement of the moment will be overwhelming. Be prepared.
3) Admit the mistake
If you are at fault, tell the truth and admit the mistake. Enough said.
4) Focus on your message
After giving your statement, be prepared to answer several questions from the media. Focus on your message and do not deviate from that message. Once you go 'off the script' you will be open to more questions and speculation (not to mention more expensive Lawyers)
5) Correct the un-truths
After you have provided the truth about the crisis, be sure to correct media operations that continue to publish incorrect information. Try first with a phone call. If that is not successful, have your Lawyer intervene.


Are you prepared to face the music when crisis occurs at your company or organization?

-Darren

Three tips to a successful career

Ask any top executive about their career, and they are most always willing to share a few anecdotes about the good old days. I am certainly no veteran but I have had the privilege to learn from some great minds that have passed along bits and pieces of wisdom that I have carried with me throughout my career.

Regardless of title, rank or years of experience, I began to hear recurring themes from these great executive. They have been in the trenches, done all the back breaking work, and heard all the excuses. If it has worked for them it should work for me, right?

While coaching new staff or when asked to speak to University and College students I always refer to my “Theory of Three”. Three principles I have gleaned from watching, listening and learning from my mentors.


1) Take care of yourself
Sounds simple enough, yet one we tend to brush off.
As a manager we require staff to work at their peak performance level every day. However the moment a staff member phones in ‘sick’ (we’re heard every excuse in the book), it puts a strain on all the remaining staff who are required to fill the void. There are limits to everything but the more ‘sick’ days you take, the more apt you are to finding yourself taking an order at a drive-thru window. Take care of yourself. Drink lots of water, take vitamins, go to the gym, stop smoking, lay-off the all night parties - take care of your voice and take care of your body. Do not give your manager a reason to go looking for your replacement, because there are many fresh faces who want your job.

2) Never burn bridges
There are only a handful of companies in Canada.
OK,I know there are many more than three but think of all the people you know in your line of business. Now think about all the managers they know? In conversation with any Manager you will quickly find they know a lot of the same people you network with. They know two friends, and so on, and so on, and so on.
There are no secrets. We talk.
As a Manager who does reference checks when going through the hiring process I might phone one person on your resume. I will most likely check your Facebook page. Or in most cases, I will drop an email to another person who I know from that city, company or at your business. Like any Jerry Springer show, we will find the truth, without having to throw any chairs around. As I mentioned earlier, there are only a handful of companies in Canada. They should be your best friend. Network with other managers as much as you can. Make them your support team the next time you are looking for a new career change.

3) Always be accepting to change
This has happened to me, as it will happen to everyone several times in their career. Does this sound familiar? One day you are doing a dream job at a great company, the next day you are in the General Managers office being laid-off because of a company restructure or other major changes. It sucks. How could this be happening to YOU, the ‘star’?!
That is the nature of the business world. If you have followed the first two rules I listed then, in most cases you are not being fired because of something you have done. It is a decision out of your control perhaps made in a boardroom across the country, but you will survive. If you are lucky, you might find yourself transferring to a new position or to a new location because your talents are needed there. Be accepting to change. In today’s industry, most companies use words like centralization and shared resources. That boils down to fewer positions available in the work force. Which would you prefer; a paying job or that drive-thru window gig at the hamburger place on the corner of town.

Bottom line is: never give your manager a reason to fire you. There are many people who want your job. Do not get voted off the island.

I have offered three very basic principals that will affect you somewhere along the way just as they have for my journey.
We are all on a rollercoaster ride of a lifetime. Have fun and enjoy the ride.

Networking - How do you get others to notice

When asked if I could give a presentation on Networking I immediately accepted.
In Calgary Alberta through SAIT's School of Business, they are holding a Business Development Workshop with Junior Achievement where 84 high school students will learn about Business. This is a great opportunity to showcase the SAIT School of Business students while allowing them to play a critical role in the success of the Junior Achievement participants.

My presentation: Networking
It is not about who you know now, but who you want to know tomorrow.

The most successful Business people in the world are always networking. Like most, they started with a small group of friends and supporters who helped get them to where they are today. How? By networking. Your 'network' of associates are connected to other successful associates, and so on.

Start with the people you know now; friends, family, business associates, competitors, interesting people you met at a training seminar, etc. From that list, create a second list with the names of the smartest, those with strong personalities and the most successful people you know. Once you have created your initial 'network', start contacting the people on your list. After you get through catching up on old stories be sure to let each person know what you are currently working on and where you see this project advancing in the future. Remember, you are not asking them for a job. You are simply updating your network with details of your new venture. Ask them to review the product and offer a second opinion. There is a good chance some people in your initial network might seem disinterested in your project but that is their opinion. They are still your friends. But from your initial network you will find those who will take your product and idea to their 'network' and pretty soon you will be introduced to others who share similar interests.

One of the key things about successful networking is keeping in touch. Once your network starts talking about you and the services or product you offer you can not afford to keep them in the dark. You have to keep in contact with them on a consistent basis. Either through telephone conversations or email updates, you need to keep your network up to date. The more engaging your network is, the more likely other people will hear about you and your product and want to join your network.

Do you have a website? Keep the content on your website fresh and offer opportunities to demonstrate your services and your product.
Do you have a blog? One of the easiest ways to drive people back to your website and introduce them to your network is through a Blog. It can be updated daily or weekly. Again, your content has to engage the reader to want to become a part of your network.
Do you send out regular email newsletters? Some might consider this to be spam marketing however the most successful email newsletters will be so engaging that it brings more new people to your network. There are several on-line companies that manage email data bases. I recommend Constant Contact.
Do you use Social Networking? Sites like Facebook, Linked In and Twitter are valuable resources to build your network. I use all three. Provide engaging content that others will find intriguing...the more intrigued they are, the more likely they will want to join your network.

What do you do with business cards you collect at social functions? When someone hands you a business card at a function it is an invitation to join his/her network. If you see this person a benefit to grow your network, add them. Get them on your email mailing list, make sure they see your website and read your blog to really get them excited about your network.

You're fired! Several times in your career you will invite people into your network who, after time, are not benefiting you or your business. Donald Trump has made a career out of firing people. At first, the notion of removing someone from your network seems harsh but it must be done in order to grow your network. At least every year, take stock of those in your network that have fallen silent and fire them. At the end of the day, you can still be friends with them if you want, but they have already demonstrated they are not interested in the growth of your company. Therefore it should not come as a surprise that you are removing them from your email list or special offers letter.

Who is on your network? Take the time to review your lists. You will be surprised at the outcome.

-Darren

H1N1 Pandemic; Fears before Facts – what you needed to know

I am not a Doctor. I am not employed by any Medical company.
But because of the fears of the H1N1 ‘Swing Flu’ pandemic, I have had to do a lot of my own research to ensure that I remain healthy. And I’m sure you and many of your friends and families have done the same.

Why? Because the people who we elected to ensure the health and safety of the citizens of our country failed to do their job. They failed to control the message, they failed to provide reliable information on the flu strain, and they failed to inform me (the public) on the safety or effects of getting the flu shot. They simply failed.

Where could this have been corrected? Let’s start at the beginning.
The WHO (World Health Organization) has been talking about a Global Pandemic for years, but it was about 18 months ago when their tone changed. No longer were they talking about ‘if’ there would be a concern but ‘when’ there this would be a concern. And what were our Governments doing to prepare for this Global infection? From what we’re seeing now in many parts of Canada – nothing.

Surely someone started to prepare an Emergency Crisis plan. Surely, emergency meetings were called to discuss a crisis management strategy. What are we going to say? How are we going to get the messages out? How are we going to ensure that one message is being delivered at all times? How are we going to ensure the public will not panic? Was this done? Perhaps to some degree, but not to the extent that I needed to be.

As a Media Coach, my message to my clients is simple; communicate a message and do not alter from that message. Use every method possible to ensure your message is being delivered accurately and correctly. How do you think they, the people responsible for ensuring the health and safety of millions of Canadians performed? Failure.

From the moment the H1N1 ‘Swine Flu’ became a Pandemic concern, they needed to broadcast timely and consistent messages to everyone, everywhere. We’re talking about the lives of Millions of innocent people. Many of these people are also very web savvy and, like me, have had to look to the net to find useful, up-to-date information because it is not being provided by the traditional Media outlets. Think about it.
A newspaper only publishes daily in large markets – weekly in smaller markets.
TV stations only air Newscasts in the Morning, noon hour, supper hour and late evening
Radio stations run short news casts during the morning shows and very few through the rest of the day.
The internet provides content that is refreshed every second.

So how can you prevent panic when you’re only providing minimal updates to the conventional media when we, as citizens, want updates NOW?

You have to be willing to think outside the box – re-invent the box if you have to, but you can do so while still controlling the main message. First of all, you have to build a team of people that understand the importance of message development and message delivery. Once you get a plan in place, you can then begin broadcasting your message to the ‘web’ of Media that will turn to you for comment. Remember, if you don’t provide the information the public wants when they want it, they will find anyone standing on a street corner to give them the information they are looking for at that moment.

So before Crisis strikes your organization, are you prepared?

Marketing and Promotion on a shoe-string budget

How can you create a successful event with very little budget?
I recently attended a fundraising event in my small hometown in central Saskatchewan. For a once thriving community that supported the local farming and ranching families has been reduced to only about 100 residents. The grain elevators are gone, the skating rink has disappeared and the school I once attended is now the community grocery store. But one thing that has not changed is the small town spirit of "community".

While I have always stayed in contact with my family and friends in this small community, I witnessed an event that would make Marketing, Promotions and Public Relations specialists proud. The success of this event was not the result of a major advertising campaign. Not at all. In fact this sold-out event was the result of 10% advertising and 90% old-school social marketing; the telephone.

What I have failed to mention so far is the fact that in this quiet town of approximately 100 residents, many were engaged by the fundraising initiative and picked up the phone to tell their friends and family. Many of those contacted also talked with other friends and spread the word to a more far reaching group of engaged family and friends. After the home cooked meal, the speaches, video presentations and music, more than 200 people attended this small town fundraiser - a sell-out event. Money raised will be provided to purchase a piano and other musical instruments for the residents of a local Seniors Lodge.

Why was this a success? Good old fashioned two-way communication...the telephone.

When planning your next event or promotion, take a page from my friends back home:
-the event must have a worthy cause,
-the event must have a solid base of supporters who believe in the event,
-the event can be 'advertised' through conversation and networking,
-follow up with guests prior to the event to remind them the importance of their attendance,
-do not give up the cause.


In memory of my Uncle, Don Lynch.
"Any day that you don't laugh is a wasted day."