Category: Commentary

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It’s All About Connections

Up next in the Top 10 Things I learned in 2009:

#6

Social Disruption – My generation is known as technology ‘Immigrants’… as opposed to our ‘Native’ kids. We’re learners; they’re naturals. In April, I started Tweeting. In July, I began blogging. Toss in Facebook, Linked In and a few others and – whew –  there are many things to learn and track. Social Marketing is here to stay; the world wants to connect, and all of us need to determine the strategy behind our efforts and the best way to balance everything.

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In Search of the Guru

Continuing the countdown of the Top 10 things I learned this year:

#7

Go For It – A few months ago I read where Seth Godin wanted to invite a select group of 10 small business owners to spend a day brainstorming. The cost would be travel to and lodging in New York City and a $3,500 charitable donation. I decided to apply and wrote a compelling business case about why the marketing guru should pick Success Handler. He replied immediately with a personal e-mail. A week later, he sent another… notifying us we weren’t among the chosen few. While that was disappointing, it convinced me that I’m one click away from anyone on the planet. In 2010, my biggest Rock is to reach out to a lot more smart people and see what happens.

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Words of Wisdom

More on the Top 10 things I learned in 2009:

#8

Spin The Wheel – It’s been nearly three decades since Pat Sajak began hosting Wheel of Fortune. A big sports fan, I heard him interviewed on the Dan Patrick Show during the baseball playoffs. When the subject turned to compensation and Patrick cracked about making big bucks for working just two days a week alongside Vanna White, Sajak delivered a great line: “I get paid the money I do to act like the 6,000th show is the sixth.” Remember that whenever you feel yourself falling into a rut or becoming complacent.

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Plan for Success

Top 10 Things I learned in 2009:

#9

Uncalculated Risk – Just last week I heard this statistic: only 17 percent of small- and medium- size businesses have a written plan… and that includes scribbles on a napkin. Talk about walking in the dark without a flashlight. If you haven’t paused to write down your ‘Rocks’ for 2010, at least you know 83 percent of your peers are in the same boat. Of course, some people consider buying lottery tickets as sound financial planning.

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The Year in Review

Counting down the Top 10 Things I learned this year:

#10

First Things First – During a coaching session one of my clients was describing the challenges he faces in his start-up company. Like many, he struggles balancing all the stuff on his plate. My response: “That’s why I’m eliminating things getting in the way of my success.” There will always be more to do, and most of us focus on what we enjoy, not necessarily what we need to be doing. I recently gave up my position as a columnist for an industry magazine, mutually agreed to end a long-term coaching relationship and decided not to renew a consulting contract. What will you let go of in 2010 to free up extra hours in your schedule?

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