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Transitioning From Corporate America to Small Business America: It’s all about the network

 

I still remember the day that I decided to leave my job at Hewlett-Packard to become the CMO at a much smaller company by the name of Balihoo. I’d always dreamed of running a small business, and this was my chance to make that happen.

My first day was memorable. I introduced myself to my seven new colleagues, sat down at my desk (an old door perched on top of two filing cabinets), and then it hit me – now what? I was no longer at a company with hundreds of marketers, sales teams, and support people. Budgets were tight, timelines were tighter, and my “to do” list went on for days. I took a deep breath and dove head first into this scary but exhilarating new world..Continue Reading

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Announcing LinkedIn Cats You May Know: Connecting Felines One Paw at a Time

 

Cats dominate the web, and as one of the largest online social media platforms, we identified a need to connect our members to the feline community, and vice versa, to fulfill a gap in our current product. LinkedIn’s revolutionary new Cats You May Know recommends new potential cat contacts — and allows you to connect with the cats you already know.

Cats You May Know was designed to give pawed professionals an opportunity to brand themselves, share their unique skills, and network with both humans and other relevant cats in their breed.

The purrfectly sleek design features large photos so you can clearly see which cool cat you’re connecting to. You can also easily access every feline’s expertise (from chasing bits of lint on the floor to watching birds), as well as their locations and interests — all with a single click.

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Wall Street dips as investors wary before jobs data

 

(Reuters) – U.S. stocks slipped on Thursday, as investors turned cautious ahead of Friday’s monthly jobs report, while a drop in biotech and momentum shares dragged the Nasdaq down nearly 1 percent.

The Dow ended down just a fraction of a point, within about 4 points of its record closing high of 16,576.66 set on December 31. The Dow posted an all-time intraday high during the session.

Market outperformers in the Internet and biotech sectors lost ground, resuming a selloff from March after some recent gains. Two weeks ago, biotechs suffered their worst day since 2011…..Continue Reading

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7 Traits That Distinguish Super Successful People From Ordinary Ones

 

My book Business Brilliant is based on survey research that found seven key principles of work and wealth-building that super-successful people practice but ordinary people avoid.
Here are stories of seven of the most successful–and wealthiest–people in the world to illustrate each of those seven principles. Read More

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3 Mantras to Give Your Work More Meaning

If you were asked what you wanted most in the world, how would you answer?

Adam Braun asked that question of a boy begging on the street in India, and the answer was both stark and simple: “a pencil.” He asked it of parents in impoverished places around the world when he backpacked beyond the beaten trail. The most common response: an education for their kids.

These experiences led Adam to his vocation of building schools around the world. He’s now written a book about how the encounter with one boy in India and a girl named Nuth in Laos (pictured above) led him to create an organization that has built 200 schools in places kids used to only dream of an education. The Promise of Pencil: How an Ordinary Person Can Create Extraordinary Change* is part memoir, part motivational text, and it leads you to two conclusions: First, that next to love, education is the ultimate gift we can give a child; and second, we owe it to ourselves and the world to pursue the calling that we all have within us. As this very personal book describes, for Adam these two things are intertwined. He wants to ignite the potential of children through learning – and he wants everyone to be inspired to “listen to that restless feeling that your head may tell you to ignore but your heart will tell you to pursue… Every person has a revolution beating within his or her chest.”

Adam offers 30 mantras that have helped shape his own path of bringing meaning to his work, from “get out of your comfort zone” to “do the small things that make others feel big.” The one that best sums up his story is, “know that you have a purpose.” He learned that from a boy who wanted a pencil. The rest of us may not have that kind of encounter with clarity, but we do have moments when we feel what we most want to do. We should pay attention to those.

Which brings me to some of my own mantras. I thought I’d share three that remind me of my purpose and give my own work meaning. I hope you will share your own in the comments.

1. Do one thing today that will help a child learn. My company ePals is focused connecting children to great learning experiences. Like Adam, education is close to my heart. So before I start and finish my day, I ask myself if my work – and also my parenting – has reflected this mantra. It’s a good kick in the butt.

2. Never stop being a student myself. I try to have the humility of viewing myself as a student in a lifelong learning experience. It makes me a better listener and more open to what others can teach. I aim to stay curious and ask lots of questions. I don’t always succeed because I’m passionate and strong-willed about my views. That’s the point of reminding myself that there’s far more meaning in work and life when I see all people as teachers and all experiences as a lesson.

2. Every time I encounter another person, think: Help this person. This mantra comes from Bruce Kasanoff, and it left a strong impression on me. When I’m frustrated by any situation, I imagine the person across from me has the words “help me” on their forehead. It makes me more calm, compassionate and effective as a manager. And for those of you thinking this is a bunch of altruistic dreck, Bruce has this to say: “There is no faster or more effective way to change your interactions and relationships. You will be viewed as a positive, constructive, helpful and dependable person. People will think you are more perceptive, attentive and understanding.” It’s good for others but also yourself.

Why do mantras matter? The book begins with a telling quote from Howard Thurman:

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

Life is not a matter of asking what others want most. It’s about what you most want to do. The point here is not to quit your job and go off to save the world, although there are people who do that (like Adam). The message of the book is to find a way to devote the time – whether at work or as a volunteer or in the way you conduct your life – to fulfill your own calling in some way. That is the best way to make meaning in your work – and make a mark that matters for others.

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20 TIPS FOR PRODUCING BETTER CONTENT @@

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Producing quality content is like competing in the Olympics: if it were easy, everyone would do it. With the bar set high in an increasingly saturated Internet, here are 20 tips that will help whip your content into shape

know your goal

Creating content means putting in hard work, so knowing what you’re working toward is vital. Are you improving brand perception? Building a following? Engaging your customers? Before you write another word this year, focus on what you hope to accomplish, and your efforts will benefit for it.

know your audience

Purpose is only part of the picture; your words must resonate with those whom you hope to reach. Since your company and content cannot be everything to all people, identify the audience you wish to write to, and understand their unique circumstances, perspective, and mentality.

find their home

Each audience interacts in a different way. Younger individuals are finding a home on Instagram, Vine, and Twitter, while professionals are actively using LinkedIn. One platform or combination of platforms is likely to resonate more than others, so determine where your audience exists, and focus your distribution there.

interact

Content is not simply about a single impression, it’s about building a following, and engagement is what facilitates this loyalty. With the proper social networking channels identified, become a part of the conversation. Answer questions, provide follow-up, and get the ball rolling in order to give your work extra social momentum.

watch analytics

Some pieces will resonate more than others, but gauging that success can be challenging. Fortunately, tracking analytics and even social networking metrics have developed to provide a clearer picture of what works and what doesn’t. Monitor site traffic, likes, comments, bounce rates, and return visitors in order to glean a deeper insight into the effectiveness of content.

make adjustments

Once informative data is obtained, its value lies in its application. Once you’ve determined what your audience likes, build more success from that insight. If your holiday fashion lookbook was a success, prepare one for the Spring and Fall as well. Your audience will tell you what they want, it’s your job to listen.

take requests

Speaking of telling you what they want, sometimes the easiest way to create resonant content is to simply ask. Readers love the opportunity to shape the direction of the publications they rely on, so soliciting their input is an opportunity to farm ideas, increase engagement, and satisfy your base, all in one fell swoop.

identify your specialty

Writing quality content doesn’t take a PhD in one subject or another, but your unique perspective in your industry means that that’s effectively what you have. Your insight is what should drive your content, allowing you to deliver information that no one else can. Don’t miss the opportunity to use your own strengths when it matters most.

find your voice

In addition to your specific knowledge, your business is not the same as others. You have different staff members, a different approach, and, as a result, a different voice. Rote fact sheets and information have their worth, but readers want a human face, and adding your voice to the work will keep them from feeling bored.

deliver value

Content on the Internet is rarely, if ever, consumed without purpose. Readers and viewers don’t spend their scarce time digesting media unless they believe they’ll get something out of it. With each piece, make sure you satisfy that need by delivering something of worth, whether it’s gardening tips or stock picks.

keep it short

The Internet reader is busy, and unless they came to you looking for a long, academic discussion, they’re likely just looking for something digestible. With this in mind, it’s important to keep things readable. That’s not to say you should cut out any value, simply condense your information so that readers get what they want, efficiently.

keep it light

Along with manageable length and a relatable voice, Internet reading should generally be light. Deliver substance, but avoid subjects or tone that are too heavy for casual readers, unless the content calls for it (which it rarely does).

use lists

Readers spend time reading, of course, but every piece you create requires an investment by you and yours. With this in mind, choosing the right format can help cut the time required of both parties down. Bulleted and numbered lists avoid the need for challenging transitions, saving you writing time, and present information in a scannable format, allowing readers to find what they want and move on.

CONTINUE READING

The Reluctant Mommy Blogger

self sharing is the original thing in writing success,trials and how you learned and stand for that big typhoon of your life ill know you understand the metaphor!!

The Waiting

It happened again a few days ago. Someone asked me what I write about.

I, naturally, wanted to jump into a hole.

I would venture to guess that there are few other occupations where people get as cagey about a simple inquiry into what, exactly, they do as some writers get when asked about their chosen subject matter. If you sell cars, you probably don’t have an existential crisis when someone asks you at a party what make of automobile you shill. Teachers don’t start questioning every decision they’ve ever made when they’re asked what and who they teach. But writers sell a little bit of themselves every time they put some words out there for the (theoretical) masses to read. When it comes down to it, all we have are our experiences, ideas, and the net of words that holds them together. We become so transparent that our identities…

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What Will the Future Hold for Refreshingly Mature It Girl Lupita Nyong’o?

words initiate encouragement to the open minded listeners and readers!!

The Value of the Blank Canvas

learning is a lifetime achievement and the rewards mind blowing ideas!!

Into (and Through) the Tangle

From the Brooklyn studio of artist Nathan Dilworth.

The title of this post isn’t meant to be symbolic – I literally mean the value of standing in front of a blank canvas, ready to be painted.  It is a wonderful feeling to sense the potential of the untouched space – the untrodden field of newly-fallen snow.

It is also a bit (quite?) scary to begin something from nothing.  Why?  Because the process that ensues from the first brushstroke (or the first sentence of a book, or…) can feel like walking over coals – or quicksand.  We can’t help but have a vision for what we want this blank space to look like, but we know from experience that what we envision in our heads is virtually never what results – it is simply a starting point.  Getting to the completed product takes work; it takes slogging through cruddy, muddled thinking and…

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It Looks Like You’re Trying to Instruct a Jury…

brave in pressing words and ideas to help

Chasing Truth. Catching Hell.

Good Morning, Your Honor!

It looks like you’re working on a set of jury instructions. How exciting! Clearly you’re in the midst of a jury trial, and you’re almost ready for the closing arguments. Of course, you’re going to warm up the audience by reading a 60-page packet of jury instructions for about 45 minutes. Although the two lawyers in your chambers would prefer working on their closing arguments to watching you argue with MS Word’s automatic formatting decisions, you and I both know that finishing these instructions in their presence is a much more important use of everyone’s time.

Hey! Why did you close me?! For the past twenty minutes, I have watched you mash the left mouse button in a vain attempt to change the line spacing. You clearly need my help!

Wait! Don’t close me again. Did you know that giving an incorrect instruction is reversible error

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What “They” Never Told You About Traffic@@

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Oh traffic, my friend.

You are vital to any online business – but yet, you are so elusive.

Do you want to know the REAL secret to driving traffic? Something that has personally worked for my business over the past 13 years, and still works today?

It comes down to one word… CONSISTENCY.

I have good news. Driving traffic to your site is actually very simple – but it might not always be “easy.” And by easy, I mean you don’t just “click a button” and millions of people flood your site. I’m sorry, but that’s just not reality.

Traffic does take a bit of effort – but the effort pays off. Big time.

Here are a few simple steps you can take to build a consistent, reliable stream of traffic.

Update Your Blog: Google loves blogs with fresh content. So stop being lazy and commit to update your blog at least 2-3 times a week. It can be as simple as a YouTube video you pasted with a couple of lines of commentary.
Think Syndication: There are hundreds of sites with high PR ranks of 4-9 that are desperate for YOUR content. Sites like eHow and Instructables are just a few. Get out there and get in front of more people.
Be Prolific: Find out where your target market goes – and get in front of them. It might be a Facebook group, an Association discussion forum or even a Ning community site. Answer questions, write articles, speak at their events and contribute to the community.
Be Networked: Reach out to the influential people in your industry. And offer to help them (do NOT just pitch your products and commissions!). Think long-term relationships and keep in touch. Always.
Create a Ritual: For me, it’s setting a goal for my daily “marketing tasks” and doing that in the morning from Starbucks (that’s why I created the tool in my author box below). Find a place you enjoy working from. And build it into your day.
Stop looking for the magic bullet or “loophole”- it’s an illusion.

Be consistent. Deliver outstanding products & services. Create no-brainer offers. And turn your “customers” into raving fans who, in turn, spread the word and become your new source for traffic.

It all starts with… consistent baby steps. Now get out there and take that first step!

What time of day should I post?@@

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sharing time ideas visit me at https://t.co/B3xAm9ycaE @cyrustmybjaz29 @WordPress @dhangcalacday79 @joeltherien pic.twitter.com/s1TvHItl93

— Joseph (@cyrustmybjaz29) March 15, 2014

 

I’ve seen this going around a bit today. It’s pretty meaningless, I fear. There’s no data attribution, but I strongly suspect that some of the data comes from this bit.ly research paper which I’d recommend you read: their data are good, and their analytics pretty impeccable. But you should also note that the paper dates back to May 2012. Much has happened in the intervening years. Many other vendors have released “best time to post” research; it’s a perennial favourite. Run a Google Image search on “best time to post”; it’s instructive — if a bit depressing.

Let me share two reasons why you shouldn’t pay any attention to them.

1. The feedback loop

Let’s assume, for a moment, that the data were correct back in 2012, and that some competitive advantage was to be had by posting between 1pm and 3pm EST. That information has now been shared several hundred thousand times. Does that competitive advantage still exist?

2. It’s all mostly nonsense, anyway

We spent over a year looking at a number of accounts we managed, trying to work out when we’d see optimal reach — and more broadly (across a large number of Facebook Pages) whether there was a predictable relationship between post times and engagement.

What we discovered was (in no particular order) that:

Peak Facebook tracked peak TV. Much of our audience was at work, school or doing chores or childcare during the day. Posting later sometimes appeared to confer an advantage, but there was no robust correlation.
Notwithstanding this, almost every brand Page in the UK posted between 9 and 5 during weekdays.
Changes to Facebook’s editorial algorithms had a massive impact on our data.
There were massive discrepancies between Pages.
There were massive discrepancies between content types
There were massive discrepancies

Whenever we thought we’d picked up a pattern we discovered (much to our disappointment) that we hadn’t.

We tried to adjust for confounding factors, but the reality was that almost everything other than time of day appeared to have more impact on reach, engagement and clicks.

Five Steps To Creating The Right Career Plan@@

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In any walk of life, planning and preparation is always a better approach than simply crossing your fingers and hoping for the best. When it comes to your career this is even more important, as having a clear strategy and plan of action automatically motivates you. Playing things by ear may work for some people, but a lot of the time it simply leads to a lack of purpose.

Here are some tips to working out the best career plan:

Assess your strengths and weaknessesTry and take a good look at your personal skill set and qualifications. Then decide what type of work and company is best for you. Surprisingly enough a lot of people tend to drift into jobs and do not really have a career path that is structured around their individual strengths and weaknesses. As well as looking at the type of job, consider the type of company which best suits you. Are you suited to a large corporate firm, or a smaller, more entrepreneurial organisation? Do you like to work alone or is being part of a tight-knit team more up your street? These are all hugely important questions and can only be answered when you have analysed yourself as an individual.

Know the market

When I am investing in a business, I never go into it blindly and the same should apply to anybody looking to move jobs or industries. You should have a good idea of exactly what is required for you to be a success and what the opportunities for progression are. Look at whether there are additional industry qualifications that can help you move up the ladder and what the general salary is for different levels. You don’t want to end up in a situation where a job or industry is not how you expected it to be.

Take some advice

If there’s one thing I could change from when I started my career, it would be to have a mentor from the very beginning. Having someone who can give you informed and impartial advice is a great help. From a career perspective, it makes sense to speak to someone who knows you in a professional sense. They will have a good idea of your abilities and can give you a vital nudge in the right direction.

Set yourself targets and goals

Throughout my career I have always set myself personal targets. I will sit down at the start of the year and decided where I can improve my performance and look at ways of moving my career and businesses forward. Remember that the most important thing about setting targets is to stick to them. I will always assess whether I have achieved my personal goals and if not, I will look at the reasons why. Personally, I would look to move my career forward every 18 months to two years. This could either be a promotion, new responsibilities or a change of scenery. If your career has not moved forward for a number of years, then you need to ask yourself why that is the case.

A Positive Mental Attitude

Most importantly of all it is vital to maintain a positive attitude at all times. I am not talking about blind optimism, but if you do not have faith in your own abilities then you stand no chance of convincing other people to place their faith in you. As they say, confidence is king.