Here is the Deal on Pinterest

I have received many questions from clients and others in the past few weeks about a new application called Pinterest. I tend not to be a fad follower, so it took me a little while to catch on to it myself. Basically, your account starts out as a blank "pinboard". You can search through various categories on the main page and if you see something you like, you can "like" it, or repin it to your own board. You have the option to follow other people you know to see what they are pinning. You can also post your own photos. Sounds pretty basic, so what's the deal?
Here is the deal. When an application like Pinterest takes off like it has, you can bet big bucks that it has commerce applications to it. Why? It is popular, it attracts people (potential customers), and it can be constantly updated. What could a restaurant do with it? Post their menu and specials. What could a photographer do with it? Post a business portrait gallery. What could a car dealership do with it? Post their newest arrivals. Got the idea?
On a personal level, you can use it for just about anything. Getting married? Start your own board for that and bring in ideas you like for colors and themes and honeymoon ideas.You can build a Dream Board of sorts by collecting photos and quotes you like. The list is endless.
I am building my boards as we speak. If you want to check it out, go to my Pinterest Board. Feel free to comment and repin. Call me if you have questions about how you can use Pinterest in your business. 724-603-LEAP

Never in my life would I have considered myself an expert in anything. That's the truth. I've always been very good at a lot of things. I never considered myself good enough at any one thing to be called expert. Recently, number of people I been working with on radio, marketing, and other projects, have been referring me to their friends as an expert. It sounded a little weird so I thought about my own definition of expert. I'm of the opinion that an expert, really, is someone who is not only knowledgeable about their subject, but has the desire to always be a mode of learning, constantly updating their knowledge and refining it in order to be the resource for others on their subject. Because I spend so much time reading articles and app reviews and the like, I sometimes assume that everyone else is also doing that. That is simply not true. Even if I am not an expert in a particular app, for example, I have done research on it to the point where I know what it is how it works, and how it might be used in marketing sense. So according to my own definition, I suppose I am an expert. I'd like to think that the only thing I am an expert in, is being people person. Because that's what really all boils down to anyway. Right?

Home Away From Home Office

I always knew I would be more productive if I had my own office space. I did not, however, realize how much I was not focused in my home office. I am like in super-speed mode at my desk, whipping through lists and files. Making calls, answering emails, sending quotes, suddenly looking at the clock and saying, "Wow, I forgot to eat lunch!" For the record, that has NEVER happened to me before.
Now that I am settled a bit in my new space, I will be hanging up some photos and other decorations. I will definitely be hanging up the photo of me on the ropes course in California. My kids will be up there too. I have scheduled time to make a vision board, which will hang right in front of my desk. My husband made and hung shelves for me so I have a place for all my business books. I think he secretly hopes to get the shelves in the dining room back, but whatever.
But for right now, the calm, striped white walls (thanks, Kitt!) have been my home away from home office. And it feels pretty good.

New Year New Fear

As the second week of January begins, I find myself in a familiar place. Not a place I enjoy being in, but familiar nonetheless. After a full week of goal setting, planning, budgeting, and the like, I now see the enormous to do list that sits in front of me. Slightly overwhelming. Good thing I don't have to get it all done today.

Most people say that when a person doesn't meet their goals it is because the person is afraid of failure. I submit that the opposite is the case. Because it can take us in completely new and uncharted territory, success can be scary. Every day is new and different and unpredictable. As my friend, Tom Haupt (http://www.tomhaupt.com/)of Klemmer & Associates says, "It makes you feel like you are going to throw up." That, Tom says, is when you know you are out of your comfort zone. That is where success sits and waits.

But why should we be scared? Because sticking our necks out means we have to perform. Anyone can talk a good game, but when the rubber hits the road, we need to perform. Mary Welchell of The Christian Working Woman (http://www.christianworkingwoman.org) once said on her radio broadcast, "Everyone can sound impressive, but after about fifteen minutes you better know something." For some, that can be too much and they drop out of the game. For others it is a chance of a lifetime.

Don't believe me? Do you remember what happened to Drew Bledsoe? New England Patriot Quarterback? That's right! Choke! And who was there on the sidelines waiting, just waiting, for his moment? Tom Brady.

That reminds me. Right now there is some young gun sitting out there waiting for me to go home early or take a random day off so he or she can get off the bench and take away what I have worked hard for. Don't even think about it, kid. I do just fine in the throw-up zone, thank you very much. Game on.

Why Do People Do What They Do?

I am presenting some material tomorrow (Wednesday 12/28) about behavioral styles. This knowledge is helpful in all aspects of life, but interestingly enough, can be used to close the sale.

Understanding someone's behavioral style can give you incredible insight into what motivates them, and therefore, how to give them what they really want, so they want to give you what you want. It is pretty simple really. You can finally understand why your teenager rolls her eyes at you when you come in the room. Or why your toddler won't cooperate during bathtime. As well as why some people at work seem to fly off the handle (probably a Controller). Others quietly plod along at the same job for 40 years. If you are saying, "Wow, I would never do that!" it is because that person is an Analyzer and you are not.

Each person's behaviors demonstrate how that person feels about the way things should be. Since that is different for everyone, based on their experiences, everyone has a different idea of how things should be. And therefore, their behavior is different.

Pretty simple really.

Want to learn more? Contact me to do a workshop in your workplace. Your Sales Director will thank you.

Testing out my new mobile blogging abilities. Technology is so flippin' cool!

Good presentation on Slide Share about some basic Social Media strategy. Nice job, guys!

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