never eat alone blog

Holiday Job-Hunting

Check out this good bit on job-hunting and networking advice for the holidays.

Tip 148 – Increase Your Net Worth in 2009

What are you planning to do – no matter how large or how small – to make the world better in 2009?

One of our Ferrazzi Greenlight thought leaders, Mark Goulston, M.D,  recently asked this at a networking meeting of high level lawyers, financial advisors, CPAs, and consultants. Mark noticed something interesting happening: People could recall, almost to a man, what others said their 2009 mission would be. Meanwhile, after having been together five years in this group, they still had trouble remembering who was in what profession! Elevating the conversation to something that truly inspired them connected them in a way that professional small talk never could.

Share your thoughts on what you are planning to do to make the world better in 2009.

No Work Marketing Plan

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Tip 147 – Kick-Start Your Priority Focus

A snippet from this week’s tip of the week. Click here to receive my tips!

At a conference earlier this year, I was lucky enough to be handed a copy of Les Hewitt’s The Power of Focus workbook, an awesome little spiral bound book that contains dozens of exercises to help individuals FOCUS in on goals, and not just any goals, but the right ones.

There’s a section in the workbook called “Kick-Start Your Priority Focus” that struck me as exactly fitting the bill for December, when we’re all trying to squeeze in last-minute, year-end business and still find time for holiday madness – parties, decorations, gift lists, and, if you’ve really got it going on, relaxation and maybe even a little joy too.

Market Yourself

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Linkedin Factor

My friend, Nick Chavis, who is Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Crescent Solutions, sent me some tips below how he consults companies and individuals to build and promote their brands using Linkedin.  He demonstrates 5 ways you can put Never Eat Alone in action with a Web 2.0 twist. 

Not using Linkedin?  Where have you been?  This free professional (not social) networking platform boasts a 30 million international member base, with a target audience of business professionals.  What better way to communicate “Your Brand” efficiently and more effectively.  Here are 5 ways to improve your brand identity using Linkedin:

1.  Be Found, Be Interesting
Make sure you have an up to date profile.  Don’t just stop there.  KNOW that whatever information, content or vibe you put out will be your “digital first impression.”  So what ever your brand’s goal is, make sure you communicate that.

2.  Broadcast Your Brand
Linkedin also provides customized buttons that hyperlink back to your profile.  These buttons can be added to your blog, online resume, website and email signature.

3.  Perform Social Arbitrage
Linkedin makes it easier than ever to make new introductions to your network.  Help your network expand their network and perform social arbitrage in facilitating mutual benefiting introductions.  Not to mention, gain a line of sight into your network’s contacts to build yours.

4.  Establish Yourself As An Expert
With Linkedin’s Questions and Answers section, you can help provide advice and guidance to your network.  Answer questions in your area(s) of expertise and compete for the coveted “best answer.”  If awarded, your profile will indicate your best answers and the categories you are an expert in.

5.  Get Recommended
Linkedin enables you to build your on-line credibility by requesting recommendations from your network.  Whether you tap your customers, colleagues, or personal contacts, each have an opportunity to write a recommendation on your behalf.

Tip 146 - Lessons from a Teddy Bear Expert

A snippet from this weeks Tip of The Week. Click here to sign up.

Maxine Clark, the founder and CEO of the enormously popular (especially at this time of year) Build-a-Bear workshops and Author of The Bear Necessities of Business: Building a Company with Heart,is a total dynamo. She once told me a great story about how to deal with tough people – an important skill, because we all know they’re out there.

When Maxine grew up and entered the business world as a young, petite powerhouse, she sometimes came across guys who looked a lot like Uncle Joe and Uncle Don – tough old men men – but who weren’t exactly taking good care of her. They were rude, bullying, and dismissive of the idea of a woman entrepreneur. So every time she came across one of these tough guys, she’d look into their eyes and remember that somewhere inside of this difficult old guy was the heart of Uncle Don or Uncle Joe. That gave her the ability to project the positive and patiently hold her ground until she got what she wanted, whether it was getting her business funded or getting help for an inner city school, Maxine’s philanthropic mission.

Don't Just Make Friends; Make the Right Friends

Find more videos like this on Greenlight Community

Safety Book Supports Safety Charities

This article is very cool – Greenlight Community members giving each other (and the community!) other good press. Thanks guys!

90 Day Action Plan

I wanted to point out the good response one of my FG consultants, Manlio Correlli, wrote on my community site when somebody asked, “I was curious to know what your thoughts are in developing a 90 day action plan for your first 90 days in the role - what would be included in your plan?":

 “1. It almost goes without saying that he should clarify his broad goals -- what was he brought in to do? Define what success looks like, tastes like in 12 months. What will have changed? Pretend he is out to dinner with a friend 12 months from now even -- talking about what the past year meant. What does he want to be able to tell his friend? Likewise, what would he want the people on his team to say about that time? His clients/partners? You get the picture...”

Manlio’s other tips for a 90-day plan are here.