Soaring Solutions

No One Cares who Unfollowed you on Twitter

2011-11-10T00:26:00.011-06:00

Does anyone else find these

Tweets --->

as pointless as I do? Ok, maybe your ego makes you curious, but does anyone else care? Do you think your followers read this Tweet, click on all of the links thinking "wow, I can't believe this jerk unfollowed @insertwhinytweeterhere,

I'm going to show them by unfollowing them too!"

Consider:

1. Twitter has limits and faults. While I've used apps to whitelist people I never want to unfollow even if they never follow me back, I have found myself able to follow them again. (seriously, I would never intentionally unfollow @CarolJSRoth or @ChrisBrogan)

2. Most power users are using some sort of automation tool that unfollows people who do not reciprocate in 'N' days, or who appear to fit the profile of a spammer. Perhaps you fall into one of those categories.

3. There are an infinite number of third party software applications out there supporting Twitter growth. These may be developed by a highly VC funded software company with a QA team, or it may have been created, and solely supported, by your 12 year old neighbor with great coding skills. Often you cannot distinguish between the two. Again, faults exist, they are mostly free, deal with it.

4. Maybe the person is using Twitter for a particular business purpose, and you do not fit this profile. This isn't a personal attack, this is strategic efficiency.

5. And finally, social media is about creating a community. When you post this sort of nonsense you look like the kid on the playground who kicks first and then cries and tattles when the kick is reciprocated. If you stop posting negative Tweets trying to make others look bad, maybe people would stop unfollowing you...

What will your Social Media Legend Be?

2011-11-08T18:05:00.004-06:00

I'm sure you've seen the many posts going around honoring the legendary Rapper Heavy D, passing at the young age of 44.

My first reaction was to go check out his old hit "Now That We Found Love" on YouTube. For me it brings back memories of running in college, with this favorite tune on my Sony Cassette Walkman. Such a happy, energizing rhythm, I hated how I wanted to repeat it over & over, but had to deal with that damn rewind button...

I find it pretty powerful how social media allows people to share news, memories, and pay honor to those that inspire them via words and visual medium. These actions help people to reflect on important moments in their life and create a sense of community.

I found myself looking at his last Tweets, as these (oddly to some) are frequently cited & investigated following the death of a celebrity. His final post before his death was "BE INSPIRED". Those preceding it include paying honor to another lost legend, Joe Frazier, and other quotes of inspiration to his followers.

Think- if you were to pass much too soon, as Heavy D did, what would your social media legend say about you? What kind of message would you leave behind for those who meant most to you, or those to whom you were a source of inspiration, but may have never known?

I know my friends would not be shocked that my last 2 blogs were about LinkedIn and Heavy D. But mostly, I hope I leave behind messages of encouragement, knowledge, inspiration and humor!

Cheers Heavy D, thanks for years of musical memories. Give Bev & Rudy big hug for me.

New Standards for Stakeholder Communications with Social Media

2011-11-03T17:19:00.002-05:00

Even before the days of social media (dreadful times...) I remember receiving quarterly reports for a corporation I worked for or held stock in. Often times having part in their creation, I still had no desire to sit and read through all the boring details, especially if next to me sat a periodical of like size called "Runner's World" or "Wired" (yep, it actually started in 1993, when we were a bit less wired).

Why the nostalgia? Today I enjoyed how LinkedIn accompanied the release of it's quarterly financial results. An executive summary, key stats, in an interactive forum. That forum was Twitter.

Considering the technographics of your audience, what are your emerging leaders, the future C levels of your organization, and other stakeholders going to tend toward to gather these stats? A mailed document, a PDF download, a press release? Or the social network of their choice?

Sure there are regulations and varied ranges of audience to consider in such financial reporting, but also consider how you can get creative to communicate with people where they already are. Many businesses are working their strategic plans for the coming year right now. Great time to include your CFO and Financial team in your communications and social media strategy!

Why I'd Rather Take a hit to my Credit over $150 Than Pay AT&T

2011-10-08T18:10:00.003-05:00

After a long, painful, journey attempting resolution, AT&T clearly has no regard for their customers, even one who has been with them for over 10 years. Months of failed service was simply a vicious cycle of techs who could not fix my problem, keeping me repeatedly at home without internet waiting, when frequently, they didn't even show.

If you know what I do, you know that means lost business & money. I then moved to Twitter for support, which initially saved me hours of phone time with them, but again ended up in radio silence. My journey with AT&T internet ended with the below letter, to which they never responded. They instead sent me on to collections. I resent the letter to both. Again, no response, but a new notice from yet another collection agency. They clearly have the money to offload a problem, how about using that money to provide actual service?

So now I share it with the world, what do you think- should I pay them?

I say no on principal. No small business owner would get away with the lack of service, both human and technical, that AT&T provides. But because of their size, they get away with it, and we lose extraordinary amounts of time and money.

Ding my credit, I'm keeping my $150. Read on, and please, do share...

Date: June 5, 2011

AT&T

RE: Account 10840397

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing concerning the most recent bill sent to me from AT&T for the amount of $147.12. Initially, I presumed my internet was being combined with my cell phone bill, as it has for the many, many, years I’ve been a customer. Then out of the blue, I get a bill saying I’m past due, and my connection will be cut off (as if I had one to begin with).

Great, now I can go with an internet provider that actually provides, which Comcast now does.

Frankly, I should be billing AT&T for lost time, frustration, lost clients, and complete lack of service. I have been a loyal customer of AT&T for over 10 years. I have had nothing but frustration with customer service and technology. Yet for some reason, I still honor you with my patronage. Following is a very brief overview of my ordeal with attempting to get internet service from you from the period of time covering November 2010 through March 2011.

1. November 2010: I move and relocate service. I was given a date for activation when my equipment was sent to me. Not shockingly, it did not work. Support told me I would have to wait 2 more days; no reason was given. I explained that my business is that of a social media consultant who works online from home, and this would inhibit my ability to run my business. Alas, there was “nothing AT&T could do”.

2. My delayed activation date: I try all night to no avail. I call again & spend over 2 hours with a customer service rep. I beg for her to skip over the script I could have spoke along with her; all the things a technology expert already does BEFORE calling support. She finally transfers me to upper level support. He simply tells me I don’t need a filter with this modem, I remove it, done. Your company wasted 2 hours of pay on this person’s time. Not her fault, she should be trained better. I lost 2 hours of my time yet again, which runs $85 =$125 per hour.

3. Nightly: at 10:00pm, I lose service. I post a Tweet asking why AT&T turns the internet off every night before they go to bed. To my pleasure & disbelief, @ATTMIKET responds to me promptly and coordinates a technician to come out. I wait at home during said arrival time. No show. Again, lost business due to sitting home without internet.

4. They try again, they show, cannot figure out what is going on. Again, this is in my thread of Tweets, which should be tracked in your customer support system.

5. Yet again, Twitter based interaction with your support team. They concur that no one can figure out why I constantly lose connection on a nightly basis. Then it starts to occur during the day. During a Skype based training with a client I lose connection. Lost business, and reputation, again.

6. Apparently your team finally gave up on me, because everything went completely silent. At that point, I finally received notice that my account had not been paid. As I said, I presumed it had been combined with my cell phone bill, as I never received any other billing. I took this wonderful opportunity to simply move service and go with Comcast. With whom I have 100% connectivity at all times. Novel concept.

7. I get a phone call from AT&T telling me they are going to send me boxes to ship my equipment back. Great! I wait, per usual, nothing. Now I get notice that I will be charged if I do not return it. Perhaps the boxes are with those bills you never sent me. Provide me the promised boxes and I will return said equipment.

8. The amount of money I spent on lost clients, lost time, business reputation, relocating to cafés to buy food so I could use internet all night and day is well beyond $1000. You are billing me $147.12.

Let’s just call it even and put this thing to rest.

Sincerely,

Susanne Koch

So Many Social Media Tools, What Do I Use?

2011-08-29T09:00:00.002-05:00

With so many third party applications out on the market to support your social media implementation, how does one decide? Listen in to this super fun BlogTalkRadio show I did with Marnie Swedberg. We discussed several apps, experiences with them, and the very important surrounding etiquette. Applications include TweetDeck, Hootsuite, SocialOomph, Ping.fm and TweetAdder!

I hope this help to support your decision making process.

Listen to internet radio with Marnies Friends on Blog Talk Radio

Social Media: Your Business' Economic Stimulus Package

2011-08-04T13:56:00.015-05:00

When business building & networking, pretty much daily the question comes up, ‘Why do you do what you do?’ Before digging deeper, there are many common responses:

1. I have a strong skill set here and a lot of value to add to growing businesses.
2. I find this work fun & fulfilling, let me take the load off for others who don’t enjoy it so they can focus on their core genius.
3. There is a huge need here I am honored and thrilled to be able to fill it. And the list goes on…

In a coaching session with the fabulous Harriet DiCerbo of Mosaic Path, her line of questioning took me further, and allowed me to say something I normally would have felt immodest or arrogant saying, so it took a while to spit out, but dammit, it’s true! “I want to, and believe I can help stimulate the economy via social media!”

What?- Lil ol me, stimulate the economy? But why not? Why not all of us? We all have great business knowledge to share with others. Knowledge is infinite, meanwhile, most of us only have access to 10% of our brain. Something you find simple and basic could be someone else’s enlightening moment and vice versa. Don’t discount yourself.
So how can you use social media to stimulate the economy and your business or career?

1. Times are tough, budgets are strapped (not one of those enlightening tidbits, I know). A small investment in social media strategy and education will facilitate the ongoing use of tools that are free. Your recurring cost can be limited to only time. It shocks me how many businesses still take out classifieds, TV ads, radio ads; advertising the majority of the population simply tunes out. Save excess funds, allocate a smaller portion to social media education, and then run with your new model on a budget while capturing more business! Not to discount those modalities completely, but track metrics to see what is truly bringing you ROI.

2. Sadly, I see local brick and mortars pop up quickly, only to find the storefront is up for lease again shortly thereafter. Many watch bottom line by not advertising, but as I frequently & cheesily reference- “If you build it, they will not necessarily come.” (Even if you believe they will, in the movie, they were ghosts. Ghosts don’t make good customers, they scare the real ones away & don’t buy stuff.)
Social media lets people know you are there. A small investment gives you a way to establish brand awareness. At the very least, get your Google Profile completed, claim your Google Place, and put yourself on the virtual map. It’s free!

3. Businesses are cutting back by not attending or postponing trade shows and conferences. This drastically impacts the goals of a sales team who may normally rely on these events to fill their pipeline, earn commissions, thus feeding their family & paying their mortgage. Seeing a company make this decision, and then seeing same company has no presence on LinkedIn literally saddens me. When used to its fullest, proactively, and with proper etiquette, you will see your pipeline grow and sales soar. As a side bonus, your cold calling can head to the grave. Even those cold calling for 20 years tell me it is still the most dreaded part of their day.

4. While we are on the topic of trade shows and conferences, did you know Twitter allows you to be a fly on the virtual wall? Don’t get pissed at your boss for keeping you at your desk; surprise them by saying~ “Cool! No problem! I’ll attend free from my desk!” Find the Hashtag and join the Twitter stream. The July eWomen Network Conference in Dallas used #eWN2011, and is still going strong weeks later. Several tools allow you to follow hashtags, archive and save them. You can meet people, learn from speaker sessions, engage and do business.

5. Are you job hunting and using Monster.com or Careerbuilder.com exclusively? To those of you also deep sighing with an eye roll, I know…. it shocks me how many think this is still the way to go. These jobs are already stale and likely have spent quality time already on LinkedIn. They probably are already down to the final 3 candidates and have it out there just in case they all get hit by a bus. If you aren’t on LinkedIn maximizing your profile and connections, while exercising caution on your other social profiles like Facebook & Twitter, you better believe that other candidates have both legs, and arms, up on you.

Daily I encounter entrepreneurs and business owners who are simply not yet aware of the power of these tools, or the current state of the technology. In many cases people simply feel overwhelmed by getting started, understandably so! Just pick one thing, start slow, and as Nike says “Just Do It”! It’s better to start getting a toe wet slowly than to keep it forever in your Nike.

Considering the power in these few tools, and how many more are available, I look back and think, “Yes, the more people I can show how to do this, the more people get jobs, the more businesses get business & create brand evangelists, I am stimulating the economy!” And it’s fun too. That’s pretty cool!

Graphics courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net | jscreationzs

Social Networking: Are You Collecting or Connecting?

2011-07-06T11:00:00.001-05:00

When you network with people, are you collecting or connecting? It sounds kind of strange, thinking about people in this way doesn't it? Almost creepy... This is something using social media without employing the rules of engagement has relegated us to. A bunch of clicks on a Facebook Like , Twitter Follow or LinkedIn Accept button. What is the value of that click to you? And are you fully aware that there is a human being on the other side of that action?

FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Tsufit, an entertainer, entrepreneurial coach and author of "Step into the Spotlight: A Guide to Getting Noticed", writes in her book; "Fan collecting is an art. Fans don't want to feel like they're being collected. They have to feel that they've had a genuine connection with you."*

At the most basic level, I always advise clients to interact on social media just as they would in real life. Tsufit's comment is about networking in person, on how to genuinely work a room to make connections with people that ultimately turn into business relationships. This rule can, and should, be applied as a lesson in social media just the same.

Consider the direct message in Twitter (for those not familiar, this is the 140 character private inbox of Twitter), which has become automated to a fault (in my opinion). Would you say the same thing to everyone you met at a networking event? "Hi Firstname! Great to connect here, go to my Facebook page and be my next fan! I'll send you my free e-book!" then turn around and say this to the next person? As a visual thinker, I'm kind of cracking myself up, picturing this robotic networker who says this to everyone at the networking event, the cab driver, the check out person at the grocery store, and the neighbor's dog as he/she returns home. Would you hire this person? If this is how they interact with every person of varied professional focus and disposition, might this automation be applied to their products and services as well? Everyone wants a personal touch, to know they've truly been seen and heard, and that as a service provider you understand their unique business challenges, short and long term goals and offer them a solution catered to their industry, business mission, branding and budget.

Really think about how you can make authentic connections with people, because that is what generates valued business relationships as well. "Know, like, and trust": build relationships, build business.

So next time you interact on social media, ask yourself; would I do this at a networking event? Would I say this at a trade show, conference or seminar? If not, think again before you make that next keystroke. Get connecting and start soaring!

*Note, this is not an affiliate link, simply an amazing read that any entrepreneur should add to their collection (bad pun intended).

Marketing Focus: What the Hell do you do Anyway?

2011-03-02T11:00:00.001-06:00

Photo by: Gregory Szarkiewicz

Have you ever walked by a storefront and stopped to look curiously because you couldn’t quite figure out what it was? This happened today as I noticed a new storefront on Chicago Avenue. At first glance I considered stopping in to check it out; I saw album covers and things of other like interest on display. Then as I looked up, the signage said “Mr. Ping Pong Table” and listed other related products.

As my eyes glanced to the right, a big sign also said “U-Haul rental here!” Interesting, I thought, is this to bring home your new ping-pong table? It didn’t stop there-- as I took my line of sight back to street view, I saw a flower display in the right window. Yes, more varied signage indicating that “Mr. Ping Pong” is also “Mr. Flower”. What?!? I walked away confused, and thus my brain began blogging.

The same thing happens with website traffic, but much more quickly. I will be the first to say I am guilty of scattered focus and delayed update. Much like the copywriter who’s own blog is old because they are too busy blogging for clients, or the web designer with a site that has been static for 6 years, or the fitness instructor who doesn’t stretch or foam roll (that’s for you Hope of 'Hope and Piece') as she advises her students to. (Guilty as charged, yet again.)

So, as I am working on my own gaps noted above, I ask you all to consider the same.

How long has it been since you updated your website? (This also helps keep fresh with search engines)

When did you last tweak your social media platform bios and information?

Is your LinkedIn profile up to date? Are your specialties all covered with relevant key words?

What about any other traditional or online marketing material positioning your business services?

Don't be afraid to reach out to solid peers, ask them to look at your site and summarize back to you what it says you do. It could be very enlightening!

We are always growing and evolving, personally and professionally. Time can fly very quickly before we realize that what we project online (or offline), is not accurately reflecting our most recent and relevant value proposition, niche focus, and business service offerings.

This is not to say you shouldn't share your many other sides, but draw your audience in with your most engaging, specialty focus first. Kind of like a date… Then as they get to know you and your business offering, they will be more inclined to stick around and hear about all of those other great things you have in your back pocket and can support them with as well.

In the meantime, if you need a place to buy flowers to put on your new ping-pong table while listening to your new record albums, after you’ve driven them all home in a U-Haul, I know a place…

PS (can you ps in a blog?) I did Google this store, and found that online, their message is very focused, If the same could be done to the store front, perhaps more foot traffic will be encouraged! If I'm going to use a local store as an example, the least I can do is give them a little plug. I'm all about supporting your local small biz :)

Facebook Pages: Why doesn't my employer link to my business page?! Here's how...

2011-02-26T16:33:00.005-06:00

Due to the fact that Facebook creates a "Community Page" when we add an employer to our profile, it naturally is not going to connect to our Business Page. Hopefully something they will fix one day, but for now, there is a solution. This video walks you through the simple steps to tie your employer name on your personal profile to your business page. A critical linkage for us entrepreneurs and small business owners!

If you need an improved view you can also find this here: http://www.screencast.com/t/k78Onb3BRMc

Unable to display content. Adobe Flash is required.

Facebook Removes Suggest to Friends- How Will We Grow!

2011-02-04T10:30:00.001-06:00

As you know, Facebook pretty much runs the world now, and they can do whatever they want, whenever they want, without notifying users, nor caring how user friendly or intuitive their user interface may be when changed abruptly. That said, it still is a fantastic platform for business, and well, they will continue to have many of us on that leash, because frankly if done right, it works. A great option in building a business page following, historically, was the 'Suggest to Friends' option, as seen to the left.

This is something I always tell clients new to Facebook or growing a business page to use on a weekly basis as they add friends to their personal page, in order to use their personal connections as a portal to growth for their business page, as relevant of course.

Those of you using this function may have noticed it acting a bit odd lately. Something like the grey bar below, where you normally would see the thumbnails of each of your friends. They first announced this as a holding pattern while a bug was fixed. Per this article: http://www.insidefacebook.com/2011/01/21/suggest-to-friend-bug/

However, the end result is that this functionality for the non-admin user has actually been removed, as discussed here: http://www.insidefacebook.com/2011/01/28/removal-suggest-friends-pages/

Page admins, do not fret- as a page creator you still have access to this function, and should continue to use it as a fan building mechanism to boost your business page.

What you can no longer do is say to your friend with 1300 Facebook friends "Hey buddy, will you help support my business growth and suggest my business page to your expansive group of friends?" Well, you can still say this, but your friend can no longer help you in this way. Or can they...?

If you trust this friend, absolutely and unconditionally, both before and after cocktails, there is an option. First ask yourself- would I give this person my debit card pin code? If this answer is yes, consider this possibility... Perhaps if just for a day, you make them an Admin of your business page. (You trust them, right?) If someone is an admin of your page, they can still help you and suggest their Facebook friends become a fan of your page.

So this is the workaround solution, one not to be considered lightly. One I don't like to recommend for privacy sake, but some of you have very influential friends with strong networks, yet a simple 'share' is not going to have the impact of a 'suggest'. People can still "share" your comments to their following, and this is still a good engagement factor to shoot for in your interactions and it can facilitate viral growth as well as boost search engine optimization (SEO). However, it is a much slower step toward growth and is not going to have the potential exposure of a "suggest". The "share" can sneak past one's view in a full newsfeed, while a "suggest" will remain in someone's queue for an action to be taken.

So perhaps you make your highly connected friends or family members an admin, temporarily, so that they can suggest your business page to their friends. Just don't forget to remove them once the action is taken!

Go forth and grow!

Maximizing Social Media Internships

2011-01-08T13:23:00.002-06:00

Photo by graur razvan ionut

Of the infinite benefits of social media, another has been the introduction of new jobs and opportunity into the economy at a time when it is critically needed. The other side of this coin is that many people believe that because they spent years using Facebook, they automatically qualify as a “Social Media Expert”. Businesses often fail to look beyond the lack of business world application due to their urgency to get online, and resist making the financial investment to do it strategically.

Enter the social media internship. The internship is an incredible way to benefit both the applicant and the business. But it can also be a recipe for disaster if not managed appropriately.

When hiring an intern to manage your social media, ask yourself a few questions:

Would I want this person on the phone with that huge deal I’m about to close, while the world listens?
Would I want this person to immediately react and speak on my behalf when my business, products or services are highly criticized in the public eye?
Is this person a savvy communicator, strategic thinker, and comfortable with a public presence?

It isn’t simply about the ability to navigate the social landscape, a successful social media or community manager must understand your brand, your voice, the etiquette of attraction marketing, and hold in very high regard the fact that they are responsible for representing your public image online.

Let’s also consider your responsibility as a business owner, and grooming young professionals to be masters of their craft and helping to launch them into a successful career.

The intent of an internship for a student is to learn and grow by applying learned skills in a business setting. If you toss them a bunch of content and tell them to “post and chat” they will not be making the most of this career growth opportunity. The internship is not about ‘cheap labor’ it is a coaching opportunity that needs to be taken seriously by the employer.

Too often businesses are simply looking to reduce cost and get online so they can look the other way and ‘let social media run itself’. This does not work. Making the investment to educate your social media interns will not only benefit your online campaign and protect your reputation, it could just result in a long term employee who becomes a solid, strategic player in your organization generating substantial ROI on your initial investment.

This is your image at stake, and the potential of an eager young professional. Aren’t both worth the investment?

The Fearless Leader vs. The Emotionally Intelligent Leader- What Do You Aspire To?

2010-08-05T09:44:00.004-05:00

Traditionally, the presumption of ‘fearless leader’ has been held in high regard. Someone who takes risks, who takes charge, and keeps full control and power in the face of adversity. What had not historically been considered was the impact yielding of such power and control had on the supporting individuals and thus, the dynamic of the entire community. It is not a surprise this is often used in conjunction with the term ‘dictator’. In a business situation, do you want a fearless leader, or an emotionally intelligent leader? Stick with me before you answer that based on traditional presumptions…

How does one become what is known as the traditional concept of “fearless leader”? One of many concepts studied by Kets de Vries and Miller (1985) in their article on “Narcissism and Leadership,” is based on a personality trait called “reactive narcissism”. Such individuals are driven to prove their superiority, power and adequacy. They lack empathy, resist criticism, and blame others for failures. Because of their demeanor and actions, this personality is often viewed as the ‘fearless leader’. However, when considering leadership from the perspective of motivating and inspiring others, and being a solid role model for those in your wake, this individual completely lacks true leadership capabilities.

A title and a box above other boxes on an organizational chart does not make one a leader. In my career I have encountered a few ‘fearless leaders’. Take for example the executive who would walk across the office in a rage, copying an entire organization on an email to blame and humiliate others before fully gauging a situation and keeping himself in check. Imagine the demoralization that can spread from this behavior occurring on a consistent basis. How might increasing this individual’s level of emotional intelligence improve his leadership skills? Acknowledge the fear that underlies these actions. What? A leader having fear!? Yes, one who is truly a fearless leader is not one without fear, but one who acknowledges the fear, and can push forth with grace and fortitude in spite of it, without throwing others under the bus, and allowing themselves and others to learn and grow from the situation. Ego must not cloud the situation.

These days people think too much in extremes and are afraid to acknowledge having fear. Fear is something you have if someone is chasing you with a knife, a car coming at you in the wrong lane, a rabid animal before you with exposed teeth, or a big creepy spider on your wall (just me?).

Fear actually also is- “that customer is pissed, I hope I don’t lose them”, or “I am really nervous about making this sales call, I’m a bit intimidated by this person”, or “I can’t believe I said that in that meeting, I hope they don’t think I’m an idiot”. Anything that raises concern that you might lose something of comfort or importance to you qualifies as fear. At the greatest extreme, it could be the loss of life. But it may also be loss of status, prestige, financial security, reputation, or even simply the ability to have a pleasant conversation.

Once you can name it, you can effectively deal with it. It takes humility to do this, and this is a much stronger trait than trying to hide your fear with blame, justification and attacks on others. Humility and an emotionally intelligent leader build morale, cohesion and a dynamic team in support of one another and a common goal. Read: Profit and success!

Challenging the Inner Child

2010-06-14T11:54:00.000-05:00

It is proven in neuroscience that the beliefs instilled in you as a child can hold you back as an adult. Those things that we were told or experienced (perception being reality, especially for a child) become etched in our brain and established as our lifelong belief system. The brain continues to use those beliefs to protect us from perceived hurt, pain, rejection and failure.

What would happen if you let those go? Who could you become? What dreams did you set aside because someone told you that you couldn’t or shouldn’t do something? What do you feel you’ve been missing out on? What greatness are you stifling because of your false doubts of yourself? Most people settle for content and comfortable. But we are worth and deserve so much more!

I came across many nostalgic items as my sister and I packed up our Mother’s things after she passed. So many memories resurfaced! I loved finding the box of clay art each of us (my brother, sister and I) created as youngsters in school. Of course ashtrays abound along with various other lumpy colorful works. One that fascinated me was the creation I made in fourth grade- a person doing sit-ups. Really, sit-ups? Looking back now, I wouldn’t have thought I even knew what a sit-up was then. It really struck me that I came up with that at such an age. But it had meaning for me now as a late-life entrant into the fitness industry.

Given my recent life transition, I’ve been pondering a lot about dreams I left behind in childhood to follow the path I was “supposed” to follow. The reasonable path set by societal and familial expectations. This is the one that I followed for 16 years; “Successful”? Yes. Fulfilled? No

Holding onto my novice work of art I thought back to how as a child I longed for movement, music, expression and helping others. I dreamed of being a dancer, dancing around the house for hours in our red carpeted basement by myself to my sister's record albums! But this wasn’t a reasonable career choice. I would struggle financially, my parents wanted more for me than they had. I was too short anyway and we didn’t have enough money for such training. I also recalled how I knew I wanted to help others, simply help the world in some way. In my mind at that time that meant being a doctor or a veterinarian. But, you had to be really smart to do that, have a lot of money for school, and besides, wouldn’t I cry at the death of my first bird let alone puppy or human being? Don’t be silly, I was way to emotional to handle such things.

When we are told something as a child, or see things in action before us, it becomes our solid, unquestioned belief and standard mode of operation for living. We believe what those we look up to tell us; those who care for us and protect us. It usually is done out of love and protection. In other unfortunate cases it may be out of verbal abuse or jealousy. Whatever the source, it CAN be overcome. Don't ignore your desires or hold back from making great life shifts just because that recording in your head says “you can’t” before even giving it a shot. Stop that voice next time and ask "why not, dammit!" Answer the question as the child you were, and then challenge that child as the powerful, strong adult you are now. The beliefs are so prevalent because it isn't our common nature to question it. But with the awareness of it and taking the action enough- the adult will win.

It takes a lot of work, coaching, and discipline to change beliefs. It’s a lifelong journey. But, it allowed me to walk away from a stereotypically successful career and attractive salary to start again and follow my dreams. It happened a little bit at a time, but it happened by following my passion, not letting old belief systems stop me, not caring what people think. Becoming transparent to the world because even if thousands laugh but 1 person is inspired to action, I’ve done my job.

Years ago I never would have expected this Technology Exec to be living life as a Dance Fitness Instructor and Certified Personal Transition & Business Coach today. I’m loving life!!

I would never change the experiences I had or years in the corporate world. It gave me the business acumen and technology skills to be the entrepreneur I am today, and continue to become. Little by little, following what I loved (instead of what I thought I was supposed to do), sharing my authentic self and seeing that it inspired people, allowed me to see doors that were in front of me all along.

You can’t see those doors of opportunity with your belief blinders on. What’s holding you back? Challenge those old patterns and let’s start soaring together!

Sue Koch - Blog on BrightFuse - A Talent Community

2010-05-27T12:30:00.000-05:00

Sue Koch - Blog on BrightFuse - A Talent Community

Who Are You Failing to Honor by Listening to Your Fears?

2010-04-26T12:17:00.000-05:00

Every time I hit the pavement I delight in how great running is for stress relief, meditation, feeling freedom and nature (which in Chicago could be joyous or extremely irritating, even within minutes of one another…) but ultimately, for the process of generating unexpected ideas, and on occasion, moving revelations. Today was one of those days.

As some know, I made a huge decision to divert from a “successful” career to pursue my deeper desires, and hopefully in the process, empower others to freedom and inspiration along the way. This has been a freeing, exciting, and terrifying path! As a Professional Life Transition Coach it is fascinating to have awareness about all of the things I coach others through, and how those same things hold me back. It is human, we all have similar fears, and the power of those fears can limit our greatness and the ability to fully honor those who have moved us.

Limiting beliefs tell you someone of your age, culture, gender or any other characteristic, cannot do things you want to do. Then there is the voice of the ‘Gremlin’, reminding you of words you may have heard or believed since childhood- that you are not smart enough, talented enough, disciplined enough, or just plain not good enough.

Knowing this, what kind of disservice am I doing by not diving in fully to every opportunity presented? Human nature is often to doubt our own skills, insights, and inspirational abilities, because we discount our differences. Too often we view our own knowledge, experiences, successes and struggles as common, and thus discredit its extraordinary value to others.

We must all ask ourselves, what greatness are we not sharing with the world by succumbing to fears and not stepping broadly outside our comfort zones?

What stirred me further as my body and mind continued running, was considering how I was failing to honor my Parents and their gifts to me when I listen to fear. That damned Gremlin holding me in my comfort zone, creating common excuses to procrastinate or hesitate. (A process actually proven in neurological science that the subconscious mind does to protect us.)

My Father, who instilled in me a strength and independence most men of his older generation would not have offered a daughter, which allowed me to create my early successes. My Mother, who instilled in me an almost painful compassion for others and desire to save the world in as many ways as one small human can!

The irony was that losing my Father made me realize I was killing myself slowly as I continued my “successful” climb. Fourteen hour plus days with stress-induced illnesses is not truly success for a thirty-something, nor anyone at any age. That traumatic and sudden loss propelled me into the training that would become my new life aspiration. To use the strength and determination my father gifted me in more fulfilling ways, to make a difference.

Still holding onto fears of losing financial security, I didn’t yet fully shift. By her side every moment, helplessly watching my sweet Mother suffer a frightening and painful death propelled me further. A powerful and terrifying gut felt re-affirmation of how short and fragile life truly is. It isn’t about salary, job title, material possessions, or what society and peers think or expect of you. It is about living to your core values and desires, your fullest authentic potential, your true message from deep within.

As I thought I’d be copping out on my running goal for the day by running home to my computer to process my brain dump, it began to rain. A sign from the universe? Perhaps. Or simply the Chicago forecast actually holding true. Either way, I thank my Mom and Dad for bringing me home. Any time I feel the trepidation of doubt as I step toward my dreams with a shaky knee and churning gut, I will remember that the rest of my life is dedicated to honoring their greatness, and that which they instilled in me.

Next time a fear holds you back, think about how that hesitation is doing a disservice to yourself and others, and how it may prevent you from honoring those who inspired you toward a momentous shift, whether they are physically or energetically still with you. This could just be the kick in the ass you need to step into the opportunity-laden unknown. Keep Soaring!

“The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.” ~M. Scott Peck

Help! My Self Help Book Didn't Work!

2010-04-19T19:43:00.002-05:00

How dare they. You spend your hard earned money on those books engaging and enticing you with the exciting new joys and opportunities awaiting you, and then the author sends you off into the world without a magic genie to grant your every wish!

Wouldn’t that be great? Well, that is not how it works, nor is it intended to. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard someone say- “I read that book. It was a great read, a lot of really powerful stuff. But my life didn’t change!”

Of course it didn’t. If you read a book about dieting, you’re not going to lose weight by setting it on the table and thinking about how great it was. The point is to learn it, digest it, personalize it and find what works for you, and then actively apply it on a daily basis. YOU must do the work. How you proactively change your life using the concepts and methods you’ve just studied is the critical success factor.

It is very possible that what you’ve read was simply a reminder of common sense, but it takes effort to keep those things at the fore of your consciousness. Or perhaps you felt moments of great inspiration and revelation studying new concepts and philosophies to help you make drastic shifts in your life. In order to prevent day-to-day life from pushing those brilliant ideas back to the bottom of your awareness you must act, and commit to daily activities to maintain this inspirational momentum, awareness and growth mission.

Changing thought patterns, establishing new habits, and overcoming fears is not easy. It isn’t supposed to be- it takes work and commitment, but the outcome is well worth the effort!

Some simple things you can do:

Meditation- even just 5 minutes a day, to call it into your awareness and set an intention for incorporating it into your day.
Journaling- write something at least once a day to acknowledge incorporating your new mindset or concepts into your life.
Accountability Partners- share a book and daily goals with a friend or coach.
Pictures or quotes placed in and around the home- post visual reminders in places you can’t avoid.
Calendar or Task Items- create tasks that will pop up on your computer or PDA to remind you of anything you need to bring back to consciousness on a daily basis. Even a single trigger word will do the trick.
Vision Board- there are many processes to support this. Do your own, or find a coach or workshop to support the creation process. Place it in a consistently visible place in your home so you never forget!
Read a passage a day - dog-ear or sticky note some favorite pages and quotes to keep you inspired. Even leave it in the bathroom. No excuses- you have time to at least read a sentence or two in there!

A great model for putting new learning into action is in Judith Wright’s book, ‘The One Decision’. The last section of the book provides daily assignments and reflections to keep you committed, accountable, and growing.

A powerful reminder is always holding onto your greater “Why”. Why did you read the book in the first place, what are you trying to accomplish, overcome, shift and get out of life? This is the driving passion from your core. Remind yourself of this each day and each time this life changing decision may be met with challenge or compromise. All of these actions will support you in changing your life and creating abundance, energy and joy you never thought possible!

“I don’t have time” is a cop out. As you shift your energy in these ways, your efficiency and productivity improves exponentially. As a runner, a favorite quote of mine to keep me in check is from a Nike ad reminding us: “Someone busier than you is running right now.” The same holds true to this personal work, and is ultimately more powerful because this is about the quality of your life. Write this down for yourself and never lose sight- “Someone busier than you is (insert favorite personal growth activity here) right now.”

Alright- off for a run and some journaling. Whatever your feelings about Oprah, she does both, and she’s way busier than me!

Choosing Your Experience

2010-03-19T00:43:00.000-05:00

I was greatly humbled and inspired when I came across an excerpt from the journal of Anne Frank today. It was a powerful reminder that we choose how we experience everything in life. You can choose to experience the negativity, spend your energy lamenting in your victimhood, or you can choose to experience the adventure, challenge, excitement of the unknown, all while growing and becoming stronger along the way.

As I read this, I found it so incredible that a girl of such a young age, in such a horrific experience, had the strength of mind and resolve to go about her struggle with such a mindset. Knowing that whatever the outcome may be, only she could make the choice to find a way to experience joy in each day. If she could do it, faced with the terror her and her family we placed in, so can we all. It reads:

“I’ve often been down in the dumps, but never desperate. I look upon our life in hiding as an interesting adventure, full of danger and romance, and every privation as an amusing addition to my diary. I’m young and strong and living through a big adventure; I’m right in the middle of it and can’t spend all day complaining because it’s impossible to have any fun! I’m blessed with many things; happiness, a cheerful disposition, and strength. Every day I feel myself maturing, I feel the liberation drawing near, I feel the beauty of nature and the goodness of the people around me. Every day I think what a fascinating and amusing adventure this is. With all that, why should I despair?”

This truly is a testament to the power of the human mind and human spirit. How much more could you accomplish each day if you chose to focus your energy on the opportunity before you, and the growth that you experience with each challenge? What kind of greater momentum could you bring into your world if you shift your energy from the negative to the positive? What have you got to lose? Think of it this way-

“It's a waste of energy to be angry with a man who behaves badly, just as it is to be angry with a car that won't go” ~ Bertrand Russell

How Committed Are You?

2010-03-09T11:55:00.000-06:00

I was intrigued on a flight tonight, while reading on the topic of commitment, as I looked to my left and the man next to me was playing Sudoku- in red ink. Now that’s commitment!

Too often we make only a partial commitment to fulfill our desires. It may not be a fully conscious decision, but the partial commitment is why so many goals go unmet and dreams un-chased.

Fully committing requires you to go outside of your comfort zone in new and scary ways. It is so easy to find an excuse not to journey into that uncomfortable space, and then blame that situation for not accomplishing what we set out to do. The world was against me! So-and-so got in my way! This is the result of partial commitment- ending up back where we started.

As humans we are conditioned to stay in that comfortable place, but while you sit there, think about what you are missing out on. A good excuse may feel a lot easier than self-motivation in a new, scary moment, but the result is considerably less rewarding. If you struggle with it yourself, find a friend or a coach to help you light that fire under your ass and propel you into action!

“You elevate your life by taking responsibility for who you are and what you’re choosing to become. You can transcend the ordinary, mundane, and average, with thoughts of greater joy and meaning; you can decide to elevate your life, rather than have it stagnate or deteriorate with excuses. Go beyond where you presently are.” ~Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

Next time you identify a goal, commit to it, write it down in red ink, not pencil, and make it happen, no excuses!

"Success" vs. Success!

2010-03-01T13:10:00.000-06:00

“Success” vs. Success

What is success? Getting up in front of a room of professionals and posing the question leads to very common answers:
• An esteemed title
• A “C-level” position
• A significant salary
• Owning a luxury car
• Living in a extravagant home
• Holding a power position
• A spouse & 2.5 kids in a 5-bedroom house with a white picket fence and a dog that pees outside only on command…

But I digress…

The point is, most people answer that question with stereotypical responses based on societal expectations, and most people are not as fulfilled or happy as they could be.

I know it sounds crazy, but you can have both. I didn’t believe it myself for too many years. I believed, as many do that:

Success means hard work and hard work must be painful and frustrating, and require you to sacrifice much that you love (including self) and live with a few (or constant) migraines. But that’s the price of success, right?

It is amazing how adding two little words to the end of the first question triggers much pause, and more varied answers. What is success, FOR YOU?
And perhaps your list includes some of the answers on the first list, and that is great! As long as it is about what makes YOU happy, and not what you feel you must prove to the world, or what you think the world is expecting of you.

What I’ve learned is:
Success means hard work but that kind of hard work is fun when you do something you love. It will be rewarding and the world (at least the part that matters) will love you for it, and abundance will naturally follow. Not a bad price for success, right?

So think about it, what is “success” vs. what is success FOR YOU?

Keep Soaring!