I'M WRONG

When was the last time you actually said, "I'm wrong"? Are you someone who finds it hard to admit your own faults? Or are you one of those people who doesn't have a hard time owning up to your shortcomings?

A few years ago I went to a career consultant for an assessment to find out why I became bored at work. It was because I was typically the one with the most knowledge about certain things. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I wasn't in the presence of other intelligent people. It just meant that most often, I was the "go-to" person. Since then I've made it a point to surround myself with people who know more than I do. The way to truly learn is to put yourself around many different types of people, from all walks of life, with different backgrounds. When you allow yourself to have these types of experiences, that's when you begin learning on a different level.

I DON'T KNOW

It's a good thing when you can openly confess you don't have all the answers.

I was talking to someone recently and the person used a word I'd never heard before. My response to her was, "I have no idea what that word means, however...". In most cases, I would've asked what the word meant, but in this instance we were talking about plumbing and I have no desire to add plumber's jargon to my vocabulary. The point I'm making is that I didn't feel intimidated or less-than because I didn't know the context of the word and I continued to communicate in the most effective way I knew how. At that moment, I expressed the fact that I simply didn't know.

As you lead and grow, this is a characteristic you must have. You have to be comfortable knowing you're the person being looked to for inspiration and solutions and with all that being said, you're still a work in progress. This is when you know you're gaining more self-confidence.

Photo credit: Mr. Flibble

Does Membership Really Have its Privileges?

I was on YouTube and came across a video of a speaker and coach doing a presentation on social media. The speaker was talking about her success with her membership site - specifically about how much money it was bringing in every month.

What really got my attention was when she said something along the lines of: I haven't updated that site with any new content in ages, but yet and still, I'm getting paid off of it.

Hhmmm...am I the only one who thinks this is down right wrong and unethical? You are knowingly and admitting on camera to the entire world that basically, you're a thief. Or do you believe the burden falls on the subscriber to pay more attention to what they're being charged and to cancel?

I'm not up to speed on FTC rules and regulations in this area. Personally, I believe people who engage in deceptive practices such as these should be fined and required to refund their members.

Would you file a formal complaint if this happened to you? Would you demand your money back? How would you handle this?

Photo credit: @muntz

3 Things I Consider When Going to Networking Events

Sometimes I go brain dead when trying to figure out what to write about and share with you. Whenever this happens, I can always count on my Facebook friends to get me unstuck.

Scott Bradley suggested I write something about networking so here goes:

I've cut back considerably on the number of networking events I attend. Why? Because of the time and costs involved. I use the word cost instead of investment because there are instances when I've gone to things and have left feeling like I wasted my money. In picking and choosing where I go, these factors come into play:

1. THE EVENT BENEFITS A CAUSE

I make a donation in exchange for attending and that donation/registration fee or a portion of it becomes a charitable contribution. It's always fulfilling to give back and this allows me to kill a few birds with one stone.

2. TO DEEPEN RELATIONSHIPS

A presentation I attended in October was facilitated by a lady who happened to have been the room monitor at one of my speaking engagements this summer. After the conference was over, I sent an email thanking her for helping me out, but I didn't get a response. Since she'll be speaking, it gives me an opportunity to see her on stage, show my support, and find out if there's a possibility to broaden our relationship. At the conference she mentioned us collaborating; the talk I presented was Dollars and Sense: Maximizing the Outcome of Your Income and she happens to be a financial planner.  The seminar is being sponsored by the local chapter of the regional conference I attended, so I get to see the chapter president again and strengthen that relationship as well. I want the organization to know I appreciate them choosing me as a speaker and would love the opportunity to speak to them again.

3. LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Sometimes learning trumps the relationship factor when I'm deciding where to go. I know once I'm there some kind of a connection is going to be made. However, "connections" has become a buzzword in both online and offline networking and while it's the first step in the process, it doesn't always mean a mutually beneficial business relationship will evolve.

I see so many people who are everywhere all of the time simply because that's what we're told to do - show up and be seen. But if you're just popping up all over the place and not helping anyone or offering any solutions, then what's the point? You have to do more than what I call, "The Business Card Shuffle". You can't glide into the venue, wait for the opportunity to deliver your pitch, and then cram your business card down someone's throat (I think some folks proudly refer to this as 'working the room').

There's always going to be something going on. Just as you would invest your money wisely, you should make those same decisions when investing your time into networking.

Photo credit: activebob

Judging a Business by its Prize

Last week I had the privilege of attending a women's health and fashion gala. The event planners did a great job of producing a 5-star event. Before the fashion show started I mingled and visited different vendors, tasted desserts, and took photos.

The ladies at a medspa-type booth got my attention when I passed by inviting me to participate in their giveaway. You could spin the wheel and win whatever prize you landed on. Prizes included mini-microdermabrasions, mini-facials, and a few other things. I had my eyes set on winning a microderm, but wanted to know what a "mini" one consisted of.

When I asked the owner, she couldn't really give a thorough explanation and basically stated it wasn't a full microderm, but I could purchase the complete service for an additional $35. She was able to articulate that the mini-facial only consisted of a cleansing.

The pressure was on so I gave the wheel a good spin. Low and behold it landed on, "Take Your Pick".

Yep - I could choose any prize I wanted.

I chose the mini-microderm, got my coupon card, and told the owner I'd be in touch to schedule my appointment. A member of her staff informed me with excitement that for a limited time, I could receive 50% off all services.

PRIZES DO MATTER

The above photo was taken to promote a Hardee's Restaurant $10,000 winner. Congratulations Jacob! Let's imagine for a second that Jacob had no idea what he was winning - he just knew he'd won something from his favorite fast food joint. What do you think would happen if he found out he won 1/2 of a free sandwich? How enthused would you be if you were the grand prize winner of:

• 1/2 a pizza
• one shoe from your favorite shoe store
• 1/2 a haircut
• a 12 hour stay at a resort hotel
• 3 rides at a national amusement park
• 30 minute private screening of a new movie

But what if you had the option of purchasing the entire whatever for an additional fee? Like, what good would one left shoe really do unless you bought the right one? Is it still a giveaway in this case?

NO FACE VALUE - LITERALLY

Once the excitement died down and I had some time to think about the true value of my prize, I decided not to book the appointment. Why? It just wasn't worth it to me. I already have an aesthetician that I love and the business owner did a poor job of selling me on the benefits of visiting her spa. Did I mention that at no point did anyone collect my contact information to follow up with me? Another missed opportunity. The entire experience was sub-par in my opinion. You lure me over to your table with the hopes of winning something worthwhile and before we even establish any kind of a relationship you upsell me. That's the kind of thing you expect from a fly-by-night car dealership.

GIVE SOMETHING GOOD OR DON'T GIVE AT ALL

This statement alone serves as the moral of the story. When thinking about ways to reward your customers, ask yourself if it's something you would like to be on the receiving end of. If the answer is no, more than likely your clients or potential clients feel the same way. Instead of gifting 10 low budget prizes, opt to give away 3 really valuable ones. Put a deadline on when the prize has to be redeemed. Collect the winner's information so you can follow up 1) to send a reminder 2) to have a conversation and find out why they chose not to redeem the prize. This will give you much needed insight to continue on with that particular giveaway or make the necessary adjustments so that future prizes have more value.

Would you have gone ahead and gotten your mini service? Why or why not? Share your thoughts with me.

Photo credit: hardees

Lessons Learned from The Real Housewives of Atlanta: A Forbes Post

In a recent Forbes post, I assessed a few of the business decisions the Atlanta Housewives cast members made. If you open up your eyes, you'll find there are learning opportunities all around us.


What Entrepreneurs can Learn from The Real Housewives of Atlanta