• The more we age, the more opportunities we find to become jaded.
• When start ups grow into big companies, they can lose a je ne c’est quoi in the transition.
• When events become so big and crowded, there’s a tendency to become overwhelmed, to stick with the one we came with.
• When communities get really big, they feel less like a community and more like a city, losing their small town feel.
• When a city’s population doubles and triples, the city can feel cold or outgrow it’s infrastructure.
• When a social networking platform becomes so big it is being referred to as a monopoly, the attraction may eventually disappear.

Certainly not a universal law, but if history is anything to go by, I think we may find that small becomes the new big – that smaller velvet rope networks gain in popularity and our attraction to yesterday’s brands may evolve into a love affair for tomorrow’s.

by the way – if you are wondering what I’m on about… check this out: It’s a Facebook world after all…

Well? Am I missing the boat… if you have any thoughts or ideas, please, share.

photo credit: eatmorechips

Confidence is a fantastic quality to have. It works best when it comes with perception and humility.

Perception, because what may work for you in one situation, may not work for you in others. Being able to quickly read your environment and assess your audience is really important – hah! there’s that whole understanding your customers conversation again.

Humility, because when you’re really good at something it shows. It no longer needs to be reiterated, highlighted or present itself in a smart ass or chumpy way. One may argue that if it is offensive it’s less confidence, more insecurity.

The cool thing is that these qualities are learned, we’re not born with them. If you get it wrong – fair enough – so long as you learn something and do it better next time round.

photo credit: Ostrosky Photos

That’s right… I’m no longer making my 9am flight to Heathrow Tuesday April 20th. It is officially cancelled and I’ve been on the phone to Air Canada inquiring about my options.

I’ve managed to book a flight to London Heathrow via Chicago April 29th but have been advised that this may need to be rescheduled should things continue as they are. So nothing new there.

My additional 9 days will probably be spent bouncing between friends and hotels! HAH! I’m just grateful I won’t be sleeping on the floor of Lester B. Pearson  ;)

One thing that’s evident in situations like these is how resourceful people can be… not to mention how useful social technology is.

Volcanoes and Social Technology:

• Twitter has a variety of hashtags to organize related conversations and tweets pertaining to the volcanic ash fiasco: #AshTag, #GetMeHome, #RoadSharing – you’ll have to try search.twitter.com yourself.. twitter has been acting up non stop for me ;(
• Sites such as roadsharing.com are being used to find creative options to get back and forth.
• Tod (at) TodBrilliant (dot) com has created a Facebook page offering a survival guide for stranded travelers – smart!
• And Denise Balkissoon from the Toronto Star has been using social to secure interviews with people stranded as a result of said fiasco.

Alas, there is not much one can do but sit tight or… perhaps explore a route via Tangiers Morocco (Canadians do not require a visa) where you can get a boat to Gibralta Spain and then continue your journey by train, bus or taxi. Or vice versa.

Regardless of your situation, I wish you the best of luck in getting to your destination.
photo credit: Amy Mud Pie

Twitter has been bugging out on me this week. I started wondering – is it just me… ? So I sent out a tweet asking if anyone else was having issues. For some reason I thought it would be reassuring to know that there were more people experiencing the same frustrations.

Guess what? There were. This got me thinking – why did I feel like it was just me? Why did I want to know if others were in the same boat?

These last four weeks have been more challenging than I’d like. More setbacks than I’m used to. More uncertainty than I’m comfortable with. It’s been tough.  We’ve all been there.

So here’s the thing – we can all experience fear, we are all unsure of ourselves at times, we all get nervous, we all have doubts, we are all capable of bigger and better, we are all competent when we focus, we are all able to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down and move on knowing more about what not to do next time round.

There are two words that I think go really well together – fear and excitement. I do my best to keep them as balanced as possible. Fear tells me I’m doing something new and excitement keeps me moving forward so I can see what it looks like on the other side. When one of these words starts to dominate the other, we become stagnant or too mainstream. I find the middle is a good place to be.

So regardless of where you’re at or what you’re experiencing – there’s a whole world of people thinking, feeling and experiencing the very same thing.

Some tips to keep your perspective:

1. Focus. What do you want or where exactly are you going. Everything else measures up against this and it either supports your efforts or will hinder it.

2. Find people who are already doing that thing you want to do or in that place you want to be – connect with them (see my post on networking to make sure you get it right), learn from them, surround yourself with people just like them. You cannot help but become part of what you’re around.

3. Recognize the tape recorder playing in your head may just be that… a tape recorder. Not fact. Not gospel. Just a bunch of gibberish you bought into once upon a time but no longer applies.

4. Find a cause bigger than you and enable it. Something you’re passionate about. Something that makes a difference. Something that allows you to give back.

5. Learn. Make mistakes. Learn again. Make more mistakes and then when you’ve learned more – fall down. It’s ok. It’s all part of the plan. Falling down is absolutely part of the process… what really matters is what you do when you’re down there. Embrace the pity party… or as Sinatra suggests… pick yourself up and get back in the race. HAH!

photo credit: alexkess

There are lots of reasons as to why we connect with other people  -  I hope some of those reasons would include:

1. Likeminded – birds of a feather and all that
2. Not likeminded – hearing the other side of the story is always good
3. You are in a position to enable the individual
4. There is a mutual benefit between the two of you – a win win situation
5. You’re a student – you want to learn
6. They’re cute… what? Don’t tell me this doesn’t factor in

When we connect with other people – a few things can happen:

1. It’s completely one-sided, or your professional advances go unacknowledged – it happens… get over it.
2. Reciprocity – everyone is winning.
3. You are learning a ridiculous amount from the opposing team
4. You are stunned to learn how bloody annoying or juvenile that person actually is.

Before you purge a connection for whatever reason, take a minute to consider:

1. Baby and bath water. Sometimes overlooking the less favourable characteristics isn’t such a bad thing.
2. The old saying about if you really want to know someone, move in with them… this space is close and personal. A lot of good people are just that, good – not perfect. There are times when embracing the flaws is more noble, even smarter, than not.
3. The person is connected to other people who probably need to know who you are. After all sometimes it really is not what you know… but who!

I’m finding so much value by doing a few simple things:

• Cut people in this space a bit of slack.
• Be slower to judge.
• Recognize that overlooking a flaw does not equal you being a door mat.

Thank you. Using the words doesn’t cost you anything, nor does it appear to do as much for you as not using those two words. Stay with me.

SCENARIO A

You extend a hand to someone, regardless of where it is on the scale of extreme. opening a door to jumping on a plane at a moment’s notice to be with a friend in need. The person on the receiving end, thanks you and you both move on with your day. Chances are you are likely not going to think about the incident again. Depending on how extreme the gesture was, you may respond with, “my pleasure, I know you’d do the same. Honest, I’m happy to help.”

SCENARIO B

You extend a hand to someone, regardless of where it is on the scale of extreme. opening a door to jumping on a plane at a moment’s notice to be with a friend in need. The person on the receiving end simply takes the gesture and runs the other way. Chances are you are likely going to record that situation into your memory, reflect on it from time to time and make a point not to make an effort for that individual again. Depending on how extreme the gesture was, you may respond with, “I hope my gesture was helpful in some way… ” in an effort to give that person an opportunity to say thank you.

WHY?

Common courtesy demands it, but more than that, recognizing and appreciating someone’s efforts no matter how small, will:

1. Ensure the person who gave of themselves isn’t adverse to doing it again.

2. Will leave a favorable impression with the giver and should you (or an opportunity for you) come up in one of their future conversations, you’re likely to be referred if you made the effort to say thank you.

3. Being grateful is an attitude that contributes to keeping you on a more healthy and optimistic path.

4. Silent thanks isn’t any good to anyone.

5. People want and need to be acknowledged.

6. Great leaders make other people feel important and appreciated.

On twitter, it’s as basic as acknowledging an @reply message or a RT. On a blog – a timely response to a post. It doesn’t take much to do, but it can cost you much if you don’t.

Networking is an art – one on par to drawing stick man and gluing glitter –  but an art all the same that uses a basic formula. It also happens to be one of two most valuable and must have skills you need in work and life.

If there is one thing I know, it is networking. Connecting with great minds and not so great, is what I do. Networking really is an art. Perfecting it however, is easy. Using it is ridiculously powerful.

I have to admit, I am absolutely floored by people who ask me why they should network, or suggest they’re not really sure it’s worth their time and effort. My inside voice screams: Are you fugging kidding me? My outside voice asks: Really, why do you think that? Their answers are valid. They simply do not understand the value of networking.

What is networking?

Connecting with another individual through the exchange of basic information with the intention to find a mutually beneficial opportunity

How do you network exactly?

It starts with your attitude. Successful people absolutely get that you must first give before you receive. Always be:

• The first to smile.
• The first to extend a handshake.
• The first to start the conversation with a question about the other person.
• The first to dismiss a negative reception. It happens… but it’s their problem, not yours.

What’s the networking formula?

It’s definitely more of a formula than a natural born ability.  It is not rocket science. It does need practice.  Here’s the magic:

1. Who are you?
2. What are your prepared to share?
3. What do you need?

The who are you question: answer it in 30 seconds. This means you will need a paper and pen, a few scribbled sentences and finally a rehearsed 30 second answer preferably vetted by a close friend.

What are you prepared to share question: This is hardly ever money. This could be introductions to people in your network within a specific industry. Excess of some product or service you can share, information sharing, or an hour of your time to bounce a few ideas around.

What do you need: Be specific. Consider you may be explaining a need to a room full of people who have no idea what your industry is about. Give them examples of job titles of people you’re looking to connect with, examples of companies, or buzz words. And regardless of whether you have an immediate need to fill for yourself, chances are you almost always know someone who needs to know someone you just met. Not so much? … Well, I’m willing to bet money that this person that is likely not an ideal fit for you on the surface, they probably know three people who all need to know you.

Networking works when there is a win win approach at the center of it all. It amazes me how so many people feel it’s ok to tap and pillage their network several times over. It’s definitely not ok. Nor will it get you near as far as a win win approach will.

The people in my network all share the same attitude, and when I introduce people to my network, I make a point of reinforcing the shared attitude. I go so far as to say, “I’m happy to introduce you to <PERSON> but please give some thought in advance as to what you can do for them.” It has to be balanced and mutually beneficial. Always.

I love connecting with likeminded people. If you feel so inclined, reach out and let me know who you are, what you’re prepared to share and what you need then let’s see where it goes.

To fully appreciate the value and opportunity networking affords, check out @MarkWSchaefer”s post on his learnings from Carnegie and how it they can make you a start at work!

It’s a law… like gravity. You also reap more than you sow  ;)  Maybe we should make a point of being far more aware of what we’re sowing!

is a headline that definitely grabbed my attention. Luggage in hand I tore through Dublin airport desperate to pick up the Guardian where I could read the full article on my plane ride home to London. I’m sure I found the last newspaper in all of Dublin with minutes to spare,.. the paper came to me in bits but I was ok with that. I just wanted that part that contained Barbara Ehrenreich’s article on “The bad science that fooled the world”.  This isn’t the Guardian’s version… but it’ll do the trick.

First of all, I friggin love reading work from people who happily set out to challenge the mainstream way of thinking.  I like people who make me think. Barbara is one of those people.

I haven’t quite formulated my opinion yet, but she has made me wonder about several things. Is it possible that the happy happy, positive feel good movement was a major factor in causing this recession? Is it really just an income stream created to help lots of innocent people part with their cash? I think in a way it is of course, but is it to the extent Barbara suggests?

If you can spare the few minutes, check out Barbara’s blog. Part author, part activist and part PhD – she’s worth a skim even if you don’t agree with what she’s sounding off about.

I’m an optimistic realist who sees a lot of merit in reading books from Napolean Hill, Og Mandino, Tony Robbins and even Osho but there’s a difference between embracing a positive outlook vs. allowing positive thinking to become your religion. Right? But the question is …where’s that line? 

 The Secret  was probably one of the greatest marketing campaigns ever. I read the book and even watched the movie…  My thoughts on it all? I buy into the concept but find the content presented in The Secret severely flawed. The Secret however, quickly became a phenomenon. It went mainstream in no time… and not long after that, it evolved into some sort of religion. Hmmm, there’s that R word again… maybe Barbara has a point but maybe it isn’t a mass orchestrated corporate puppet master ordaining it all, maybe it’s those people who flock to quick fixes instead of stopping to ask a few questions along the way.