Time To Set Your 2007 Goals

The end of the year brings with it the hope for the new: New Year's resolutions, fresh starts, new beginnings, and dreams for a more abundant life.

I am a big believer in having written annual goals for what you want to accomplish in your life. Having these goals can help you make the hard decisions when facing a fork in the road. Reviewing these goals regularly will remind you of your priorities and can cause you to take the necessary action.

If you have never created written annual goals in the past, I challenge you to do this in 2007. It is not hard, but will require you to dedicate some time to prioritizing what is important to your future. The process of drawing your attention to your dreams can be very eye opening.

Begin small (but think BIG!). Set realistic goals that require you to strive to accomplish them, while at the same time being attainable. Do not try to prove goal setting as false by setting GIANT goals (yes, I know people who do this).

Focus on what it is you want in your life in three areas: family, career, and personal. In each area identify one to three goals that you would like to achieve in 2007. Be specific. Do not just write "My goal is to have a better marriage", but instead write, "My marriage will be more dynamic and I will take an action every month to surprise my spouse with something that will make them (not me) happy". Then identify those twelve actions.

Too many people use words like "better" without quantifying what this success looks like. Know in your mind what is your desired outcome, and know what physical actions you need to take to get there.

Focus on what it is you desire in your life. What you think about is what you get. To have not positive goals means that your mind will focus on all the bullshit that can creep into our daily lives. It is too easy to get our attention caught on the negative. Your written goals can help you concentrate on your possibilities.

For me 2007 is going to be a BIG year. I have some grand and specific goals for my family, my job, my book and speaking....and for myself (do not forget your personal joys...it is so easy to spend your days working for everyone around you!). I may not attain every goal, but by stretching myself toward the prize, I am confident I will go farther than I would if I just allowed myself to drift along.

I hope your new year is amazing!

Have A Great Day.

thom
www.thomsinger.com

Praise Others Project (December 18th) - Jack Canfield

Jack Canfield is more than the co-author of Chicken Soup For The Soul, he is an accomplished author, speaker, trainer, friend and mentor to thousands.

I first discovered Mr. Canfield when I read the original Chicken Soup book (there are now dozens of books in the series, and I am fairly confident most people know of the books). While he and Mark Victor Hansen did not write these stories, they compiled and marketed these "soul warming tales" so that they could reach millions. These books have inspired millions and continue to tug on the hearts of people around the world.

Jack's most recent book, The Success Principles, is a manual for anyone who is seeking more in their life. He is a real-life success story, and has the credibility to guide others along their journey to have more fulfillment in their personal and business lives.

I have never met Jack Canfield, but it is my desire to one day have the chance to eat lunch with him and would welcome his advice on ways I can attract more success into my writing and speaking career. I consider him a mentor (a virtual mentor, since we have never met) and am happy to have him in the "Praise Others Project".

Have A Great Day.

thom

If you are Jack Canfield, CLICK HERE!

Praise Others Project (December 17th) - Tom Peters

"The Praise Others Project" today brings us to one of the original rock-star business authors and professional speakers, Tom Peters. Tom's first book, In Search of Excellence (1982) has been called "the greatest business book of all time", and he has gone on to write a string of other successful books.

I first discovered Mr. Peters' writing in an August 1997 Fast Company Magazine article called "The Brand Called You". In this classic article (it is one of the most read articles in the Fast Company on-line archives) Peters weaves some of the most compelling business advice I have ever read. You are a brand, inside and outside your company. Others ARE watching you, and what you do speaks much louder than the words you say. There is no simple path to creating this brand, but each individual must take control of their own image. Regardless of you age or the position you hold, you need to understand the importance of your personal brand.

If you have never clicked from a blog to read a nine year old magazine article before...take the time and make this article your first. His message is as important today as it was in 1997.

Tom Peters has been a major influence on my own career, both in his writing and by his example. I do not know him personally (although I did meet him when he delivered a great talk in Austin a few months ago), but his writing, speaking and consulting career is an inspiration to anyone who wants to follow in those footsteps.

He also writes an widely read blog, which he allows comments (most of the big bloggers have removed comments) and encourages his community to participate in the wide variety of topics that he and his staff post.

It is my pleasure to add Tom Peters to "The Praise Others Project:.

Have A Great Day.

thom

If you are Tom Peters, CLICK HERE!

Praise Others Project (December 16th) - Malcolm Gladwell

After reading The Tipping Point, I never again looked at marketing and trends the same way. Author Malcolm Gladwell is the poster boy for the term "thought leadership", and his books cause all readers to have to examine long standing assumptions. He has two best-selling books, The Tipping Point and Blink. Most seem to like Blink best, but I am old-school and see The Tipping Point as his true masterpiece.

The premise of the book is that there is a magic moment when an idea, trend, product or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire. Just like one person can start an epidemic (think bird flu), so too can a small but precisely targeted push cause a fashion trend, the popularity of a new product or a drop in the crime rate. Gladwell illuminates the tipping point phenomenon and is one of the fathers of the huge "word-of-mouth marketing" trend that is sweeping the globe.

His writing style engages the reader like few authors can. It would have been hard to live in the business world the last five years and have not heard people talk about The Tipping Point. If you have not read the book, I suggest you put it on the top of your stack. This is one of those "must reads" for everyone who has an interest in business trends.

Gladwell also writes a blog that will make you think about many issues in the world. His insightful posts are a bit on the long side, but he does post regularly.

Today we praise Malcolm Gladwell, a great writer who makes me think.

Have A Great Day.

thom

If you are Malcolm Gladwell, CLICK HERE!

Praise Others Project (December 15th) - Tom Kane

I spent years working in the marketing departments of law firms and really enjoyed the "legal marketing industry". One of the reasons I liked working for attorneys is that most of them really needed my help. These brilliant AM LAW 100 lawyers whom I assisted were the best in their fields, and yet they had very little understanding of sales, marketing, PR, business development and public relations. They needed the skills that I brought to the table. (Although they thought they knew it all!!!)

Tom Kane is a blogger, an author and a consultant who is dedicated to helping lawyers become better at this mysterious area of marketing. Tom is a former practicing attorney and is the principal of Kane Consulting, Inc., a legal marketing consulting firm.

I enjoy reading Tom's blog because he always brings up issues that are right on point for attorneys (or any service professional) who want to grow their practice. He does not sugar coat the mistakes that law firms make in their view and execution of marketing, sales, business development plans (oh, and there are soooo many!!!).

I do much of my professional speaking to law firms and lawyer groups, and so it is important for me to stay in touch with what is currently going on in the industry. Tom's blog is one of my "must reads". I also forward many of his blog posts to attorneys that I coach to marketing excellence. I always appreciate his views.

I praise Tom Kane in "The Praise Others Project" for a great blog that all lawyers should read. And everyone else can benefit from it as well.

Have A Great Day.

thom

If you are Tom Kane, CLICK HERE!

The Six Degrees of Separation

ABC's PrimeTime did a show last night on "The Six Degrees of Separation". They sent two random people in search of a Brooklyn boxer named Petey, and then sent Petey on his own networking scavenger hunt to find someone else. They could not just call up and say "hello", they had to use real contacts in their networks to make the connection.

I missed the show, but about a dozen people emailed or called me about it. There is some video about it on abc.com, but not the whole thing. Apparently the experiment worked and these unconnected people were able to use their networks to track down their target connections.

Am I surprised? NOPE! Everyone knows somebody who has the connections that can open up a door. All of us have the power to meet the people we want to meet. It just takes effort, planning, and figuring out the right path to reach the desired person.

ABC is going to do more shows on "The Six Degrees of Separation" with more random people people using their network of contacts to track down a target person. You can contact ABC to suggest your friends as their next contestant! I have already sent them the names of some colorful personalities who are good networkers. Maybe you will be the next contestant!

Have a great day

thom
thom@thomsinger.com

Praise Others Project (December 14th) - Harvey Mackay

We are almost halfway through December and the "Praise Others Project" and today is a big one! My favorite business author, Harvey Mackay. His website proclaims him "Mr. Make Things Happen" and he is considered one of the world's greatest networkers. He has built an amazing career through always treating people well and getting to know the other person, and then giving them what they want.

I have read all of his books, and it was his motivational writing that turned me into an avid reader of business books. I was 22 years old, in my first job, when I read Swim With The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive and I was inspired. I developed an apetite for learning more about success that has never been quenched.

It was his third book, Sharkproof, that changed my life. I was 25 years old in in a really bad place in my career. I felt trapped in a horrible job and felt that nobody understood my situation. I was in a bookstore as they were unpacking his new book and putting it on the shelves. I purchased the book and read it in two days. It was as if Mr. Mackay was speaking directly to me though his writing. I engulfed the advice and made important changes in my life, taking responsibility for my future.

I wrote Harvey after I finished the book, and he wrote back...providing me with some personal advice. Years later I got to meet him when he spoke in Austin at a Chamber of Commerce lunch. But the highlight of my friendship with him came two years ago when a local business organization, TEXCHANGE, hired him to speak following the release of his latest book, We Got Fired and Its The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Us.

I got to spend the day with him while he was in Austin, and that evening when he spoke, I had the honor of delivering his introduction to the audience of over 200 people.

He was very gracious and gave me some good pointers when I was writing my book. I cannot think of any author whom I want to praise more in this project for really impacting my life. But it is not just me....Harvey Mackay has impacted the lives of millions of people through his many books, syndicated column and his speaking engagements. His books have sold over 10 million copies and are translated into 37 languages!

He does not have a blog, but you can sign up to get his weekly column. It is one of the best things you can get in your inbox.

Thank, Harvey!

Have a great day.

thom

If you are Harvey Mackay, CLICK HERE!

Praise Others Project (December 13th) - Jen Blackert

Jen Blackert is an wonderful person who has ultra enthusiasm and energy for her business and her life. She is "The Law Of Attraction Marketing Coach" -- helping busy professionals, entrepreneurs, and lawyers learn how to focus on their marketing strategies online and offline so they can book their business solid and achieve the 6 or 7-figure income they desire. She is also the author of dozens of articles, an e-book, and a blog.

I met with Jen at a local coffee house (in Austin, Texas...there sure are a lot of cool folks living right here in my town!) recently for a short meeting - that lasted two hours! I could not leave because her ideas for the future of her business (and mine) seemed to be unending. It was a delightful conversation and I was very impressed with how she visualizes success. When I got to the car I knew she had to be part of the "Praise Others Project".

Jen's website tells more about her coaching/consulting business than I could do here, but I want to encourage you to read the articles she has available. Her insight can help any business professional find more creative ways to make an impact. And who doesn't want that?

Jen is a dynamic businesswoman who has a heart. Get to know her through her writing.

Have A Great Day.

thom

If you are Jen Blackert, CLICK HERE!

Networking Is About The Follow Up

You find yourself at a very well attended Holiday Party for a major law firm in your business community. In attendance are many of the top venture capitalists, accountants, bankers, and C-Level executives in town. You meet some great people and exchange business cards.

Luckily the food and drinks are free, because most people will only take with them memories of the shrimp and a bit of a hang over.

Why with so many important business professionals in attendance and all the "power networking" did nobody make any real connections with those who could make an influential impact?

Why? Because that was not networking. Meeting someone at a cocktail party does NOT make them part of your network. The real networking begins after the first meeting. True business friendships take time to develop and only happen if you make the effort to follow up with the other person.

Take a look at the stack of business cards you have collected the last few weeks while attending the many business holiday events (you did take advantage of the holiday networking, right?) and identify two people whom you would like to know better.

Plan on the best way to follow up with these folks. A note, an email, a phone call....you decide which is the next step and then do it. Do not wait for them to call you or you could be waiting for a long, long time.

If once a month you followed up with just one person and worked to construct a friendship, in a year you would have 12 new contacts.

Have a great day.

thom

Praise Others Project (December 12th) - David Bach

I admire David Bach as a writer and professional speaker. He has built a speaking and publishing empire on his desire to help people achieve financial independence. His first book, Smart Women Finish Rich has become an international best-seller and he has followed that up with seven other best-selling books on financial success.

I heard David speak on an audio CD sharing advice to young authors. His enthusiasm is contagious and he genuinely wanted to assist others to learn from his writing and speaking journey.

A mutual friend told David about my book and my professional speaking, and he wrote me some words of encouragement. We traded emails and he answered my querues about how he found success. He offered advice to help me along my own path, and reminded me that many who are "an overnight success" invested years of hard work to get there!

Not everyone as successful as David Bach in the publishing and professional speaking worlds would make the time assist others. He did.

He has a blog, but does not update it often (still some good stuff!!). But if you visit his website you will have access to a plethora of free resources that he makes available.

Have A Great Day.

thom

If you are David Bach, CLICK HERE!

Praise Others Project (December 11th) - Jason Alba

Day ten on the "Praise Others Project" brings us to Jason Alba of Jibber Jobber. Jason is an active blogger, but has also created a great toolset for the job searcher.

JibberJobber was designed by Jason Alba during his first real job search beginning January 2006. After having a successful career in IT and business strategy, Jason found himself in the job market, which was supposedly a "job seeker's market."

Jason quickly found that a job seeker's market does not mean the job search will be easy or short. Frustrated by the lack of real tools for job seekers, he decided to move forward on a tool that allowed a job seeker to manage and organize a job search.

As the months passed, and as Jason learned the importance of networking, he incorporated a major networking piece into JibberJobber. This has shifted its focus from a tool just to be used during one job search into a tool to be used to manage job transitions during your entire career.

I met Jason when he volunteered to host "The Networking Carnival" in November 2007. He not only accepted a submissions, but he actively went out an solicited some of his favorite business bloggers (including Seth Godin, the grand-daddy of cult-like bloggers) to give him posts on "networking tips for job hunters". I was impressed by Jason's tenacity and his real empathy for those who are looking for work.

Jason is really helping people with his JibberJobber website. Good Job!

Have A Great Day.

thom

If you are Jason Alba, CLICK HERE!

Praise Others Project (December 10th) - Chris, Anne and Lisa

Today I am going off the business oriented topic and I am going to praise some important folks who helped shape my life. Peers can be a big influence as one grows up, and I had a wonderful group of friends in my youth.

I am going to highlight three bloggers who are not folks who I know from their books and blogs, but rather they are my friends from high school. I grew up in Arcadia, California (a suburb of Los Angeles) and was lucky to have had some really amazing friends around me. Of course I did not appreciate them at the time.

After high school I had lost touch with most of my high school pals (a main group of about 9 people) and we did not reconnect until our twenty-year reunion. Time took everyone in many different directions. Some of the group are married with kids, others are not. Some are democrats, others are republicans,...while still others are independent or green. But all of them are wonderful, caring, people who I am proud to have back in my life. Those who live in Southern California see each other regularly, the rest of us are in often touch by email. Anytime someone has a milestone in their life we now share it with each other.

I would like to honor all the kids I grew up with who touched my life in today's "Praise Others Project" entry. I am who I am today because of so many people who came into my life when I was young: Tim, Deron, Kelly, Kathleen, Anne, Kris, Tim & Todd, Dave, Eric, Lisa, Mike, Kim, Marti, Jill, Debbie, Ginger, Melinda, Tom, Chris, Lisa, Adam, Julie, Paula, Philip, Bryan...(and anyone else I might have left out).

Three of my high school chums write blogs (that I know about). They are not "business" blogs (like most that are being highlighted in the "Praise Others Project"), but rather very interesting personal observations of the world. I have come to admire their journeys in life by being an observer.

I have known them all since at least seventh grade (actually I have known Anne since 1st or 2nd grade)

Chris is a pastor in the Pacific Northwest.

Anne is a writer and has the cool job of working in an independent bookstore.

Lisa (who calls herself Lucy in her blog, yet I don't know why) is an up and coming executive in the entertainment industry.

Each make the world a better place. Check out their blogs and enjoy their stories.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Praise Others Project (December 9th) - Jill Konrath

Jill Konrath is the author of Selling To Big Companies. The book is a wonderful read for sales professionals who are finding it more difficult to get into see prospects. Major changes that have occurred in the corporate world over the past decade, and Jill Konrath highlights how this has effected the world of B2B sales.

As a sales executive, I know that getting a C-Level executive (whom I do not know through my networking efforts) to return a call is more difficult than learning to juggle raw eggs. "Sellers must transform themselves into business improvement specialists", says Konrath, who provides the road map.

She is also a successful speaker, trainer and business consultant who works directly with companies to share her experiences with sales teams around the country. I have had the honor to talk with her on the phone a few times, and she is genuinely interested in helping others succeed more tomorrow than yesterday.

Her website and her blog are full of useful information, and I recommend you subscribe to her newsletter. Jill is the real deal, and I appreciate what I have learned from her and look forward to developing a better friendship over time.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Personal Manifesto

Ever since Seth Godin linked to his short manifesto on Hugh Macleod's The Gaping Void Blog, bloggers around the world are posting their own short (500 words or less) manifestos. Here is mine.

Thom Singer’s Life Manifesto in less than 500 words:

People are good! While it is true that there are a lot of bad eggs in the world, I believe the good in humans outweighs the negative. Everyone I have had the honor to really know has brought something useful into my life. Too many people put up walls and do not share the glimpses of their souls with those around them. Yet, when they open up their true personality, the whole universe is illuminated.

Life is precious… enjoy it! My father is 92-years-old and still very active. He knows that at anytime he could complete his journey on earth, thus every day he plans an activity. Embrace everyday and do something fun.

Love someone! The institution of marriage is not easy. Living with another person requires sacrifice, patience, and some hurt feelings. However, if you remember that the other person is not just there to please you all the time, then you can also find amazing passion, joy and peace. Yet selfishness from either partner can steam roll the whole relationship flat. It is a delicate balance.

Children are teachers! Whether or not you become a parent you should spend some time with kids. Their youthful exuberance is contagious. Children see the world through fresh eyes. Just being around them makes you hopeful about the future. Teaching them makes you learn more about any subject.

Find a real friend/Be a real friend! Countless people will pass through our lives, but a real friend is more precious than gold. This is a person who loves you unconditionally and will listen to your stories, even when they have heard them before. Friendship is hard to define, but you know it when you see it. It is a give and take relationship and there are times when it is not always an even exchange. A friendship is like a garden in that you must cultivate and care for it differently in each season, but to ignore it will cause it to wither.

People do business with people they know and like! Regardless of your profession, treat everyone you encounter with respect. While having a great product or service is important, human beings make decisions with their hearts. Nobody likes to give their money to an asshole, and will actively search out alternatives if they do not like you.

Thanksgiving! Regardless of your religious or spiritual beliefs you need to be thankful to some higher power. To do less is very arrogant. Amazing opportunities exist in life and we all need to acknowledge that the humanity is bigger than just the individual. Give thanks for the experience that is life.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Praise Others Project (December 8th) - Hugh Macleod

Hugh Macleod's blog, The Gapingvoid, is one of my happiest new discoveries. In addition to his entrepreneurial/new economy views of business and marketing...he draws unique business card sized cartoons with each post. His posts make me think and his sketches make me laugh.

Hugh lives in England and is involved with a variety of different business ventures, including Stormhoek Winery. I love the licensing terms for use of his cartoons: basically if you are using them for good and not evil (not out to make a profit from his art), he welcomes people to download and reprint the cartoons for free. For payment he just asks that you try Stormhoek wine (and then only if you want to try it). How cool is that! It just seems right.

I also like the fact that such a widely read blogger still takes comments on his blog and responds to them. Additionally he recently started accepting 500 word "manifestos" on a variety of topics from his readers and posting them on his site. It is amazing reading to see how random people from around the planet think through their own "mini-manifesto".

I praise Hugh for his success, his art, and his approachability.

Have A Great Day.

thom

One Man's Job Hunting Journey

At my Toastmaster's club meeting today Steve Crisler delivered a great talk spelling out his "Seven Tips For Finding A Job". Steve had been an engineering manager with T-Mobile until earlier this year when they moved the office where he worked from Austin to Dallas. Steve and his family wanted to stay in the beautiful city of Austin, and for the first time in his life he found himself without employment.

Steve's speech shared the useful tips below:

1. Organize you job search as a project. Have action items and faithfully stay focused on completing the tasks.

2. Clarify your objectives. Know what you want and do not want in a new job.

3. Research your opportunities. There are many resources both online and offline to help you.

4. Prepare your documents and your stories. Your resume, reference list, and personal marketing plan must all be ready. Additionally, know in advance how you will answer common interview questions.

5. Network, network, network!!! This is the most important step. Over 65% of all jobs are filled through networking.

6. Interview smart. The hiring manager has a set of needs, sell yourself to fill those needs.

7. Chose the right offer. Evaluate your opportunities in regards to the objectives in step #2.

Steve followed these tips and undertook his job search with gusto. His quest lead him to a new position with Nokia as a solutions consultant. He also knows that he can never stop networking.

Have a great day.

thom

Praise Others Project (December 7th) - Scott Ingram

I could not imagine "The Praise Others Project" without including my friend, Scott Ingram of NetworkInAustin.com. I met Scott eighteen months ago and have come to know him well. I find him to be a very loyal friend whose business advice I seek often.

Scott's goal with NetworkInAustin.com is to facilitate the relationship building process that is the core to business success. He believes that productive networking is one of the best, most cost-effective marketing programs a small business can develop, and has the potential to create powerful word of mouth awareness on a shoe-string budget. He offers tips, tools and tricks on how to network for all who visit his site or read his blog.

Scott and I co-presented four programs for the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce in 2006 on the topics relating to "better networking skills", and will be doing four more in 2007 (the next one is January 11th). He has been great to work with in creating the course materials. Our speaking styles are different, but we play off each other in a witty manner (thanks to Scott's wit!), and the programs have been well received.

I am honored to get to praise Scott for all he has done for me and for countless others in and around Austin, Texas. Thanks, Scott!!!

Have A Great Day.

thom

If you are Scott Ingram, CLICK HERE!

Praise Others Project (December 6th) - AJ Jacobs

A.J. Jacobs is the author of the funniest book I have ever read. Most of the folks highlighted in "The Praise Others Project" will be business authors and bloggers, but this guy's book, The Know It All, made me laugh out loud, repetitively, on an airplane (causing me to annoy those around me the whole flight).

Life is short, we all need to laugh more often!!! Thus I need to praise my favorite humor writer. I also need to request that everyone I know read his book, as it will put you in a good mood...and I like it when my friends are happy.

Turns out that A.J. also writes a very amusing blog, although he has not updated it much since July, 2006. The writing style that I enjoyed in The Know It All comes through. On one post he mentions that he is a "self-googler" - which is exciting because it means he will find this post.

A.J. is the author I would most like to meet over dinner and drinks in some random restaurant. I imagine that he and his wife are delightful conversationalists. Sure, there are authors who are more famous or from whom I could gain important knowledge, but he just seems like the type of person that everyone would like to have as their friend.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Thom in Spanish

I traced a link back to my blog that came from the Google Translate product. Someone in Panama was reading my blog and had it translated into Spanish. I do not read Spanish, but it was very cool to see.

Click Here to see my latest post en Espanol.

thom

Success Takes Risks

To reach your goals takes risk. In order to attempt to meet a big goal you leave yourself open challenges, pitfalls, ridicule, struggles, rejection, exhaustion, failure, confusion, self-doubt and all sorts of other negatives. However, without taking the risk, you would never reach the prize of attaining whatever you dream.

I am a bit risk averse. I do not have that "go for it at all cost" gene that so many entrepreneurs seem to possess. And yet, I must have some of it, because everyday I get out of bed and strive to accomplish more with my life than I have done in the past. I am amazed at those I know who do not desire more than their current lot in life.

Success is subjective, and what I am trying to achieve may seem like useless fodder to others. However, it is joyful to have goals. My friend Chad Goldwasser is already one of the top real estate agents in the United States (heck, in the world), but he is constantly setting stretch goals for his company....and meeting them! I had breakfast with him today and our conversation centered on the risk and rewards of going for your dreams. He so clearly sees the direction that he is going, and he has structured his life in such a way that risk is not a problem, success is the only option.

I do not think that most people today are living their dreams (Chad is an exception, he is living his dreams). I believe this is because they get stopped by their fears. The risks they let paralyze them are not even legitimate risks, but instead simply trepidation of the unknown.

Here are a few tips to get from fear to success:

1. Examine your goals and life dreams. Can you articulate them? Do you know what success looks like? That is the first step.

2. What is stopping you from making those goals into reality? Are your road blocks real or just in your mind?

3. Is there a path to success that you can take that will lessen the risk? Can someone else help you get over the pitfalls?

4. Do you really want to live your dream? Is their a passion inside you to make it your reality?

5. Accept that risk is part of achievement. No pain, no gain.

6. Go for it. This is the hardest part.

I know it is not easy. I feel this pain of taking the steps necessary to achieve my life dream. But damn it, I am going to figure it out!

Have A Great Day.

thom

Praise Others Project (December 5th) - Darren Rowse

Darren Rowse is a 34-year-old Austrailan and is the guy behind Problogger.net and other money making blogs. The gentleman earns a six figure income as a "full-time blogger".

I want to praise Darren in the "Praise Others Project" not because he has found a way to make a living in this crazy and complicated blogosphere, but because of the effort he puts into Problogger.net, making it a wonderful library of information. It is an unequaled treasure chest for anyone who writes a blog.

I have improved in my own journey in this bloggy media because of Darren, his insights and the thousands of contributing ideas from bloggers from around the globe.

Thank you, Darren. While I do not earn any money from my blog, I have improved it because of Problogger.net.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Praise Others Project (December 4th) - Dr. Charles A. Garfield

Many years ago I purchased a book at a used bookstore called Peak Performers: The New Heroes of American Business by Dr. Charles A. Garfield. The book was written in 1986 and was already a decade old when I discovered this gem. Even twenty years after publication the book is still an inspiration to achieve more in all aspects of life.

Garfield has written two other books the topic of success, is a professor of psychology at UCSF, and is accomplished professional speaker. This book is one that touched me so deeply that I was inspired to write my own books. Thanks Dr. Garfield! I am happy to have the chance to include you as part of the "Praise Others Project".

If you are looking for a great book to read on success......track down a copy of Peak Performers.

thom

The Networking Carnival - Third Edition

It is time for the December "Networking Carnival". Some interesting stuff sent in by bloggers.

Enjoy!

The Virtual Handshake Blog on "Online Negativity and How to Deal With it"

Reasoned Audacity Blog on "7 Tips for Mass Marketing"

MabelandHarry Blog on "How to Build Your Personal Brand"

Trusted Advisor Associates Blog on "Returning Calls"

David Maister on "How to Get into the Flow of Better Work"

Home Biz Wiz Blog on "How to Write a Professional Bio"

Trusted Advisors Associates Blog on "Charles Handy vs. Web 2.0"

Instigator Blog on "Can Blogging Make Someone Seem Inaccessible?"

The Engaging Brand Blog on "Social Networking"

Good Vibes for Good Lives Blog on "Fear is the Mind Killer"

Next month's January Networking Carnival will be hosted by Andrew Flusche at The LegalAndrew Blog. Andrews chimes in and says "A new year has begun. Instead of doing the typical New Year's resolution, let's focus on something a bit different. Let's help out the people who are new to networking. Provide your best tip to help networking newbies start the year right." This will be fun. Send you Networking Carnival Posts to aflusche@gmail.com

Have A Great Day.

Thom

Side note, thank you to the other bloggers who sent submissions that were not posted in this months Networking Carnival, but the subject has to relate to "networking"! Please note that next month Andrew will ONLY be posting links to submissions that involve tips for networking in the new year! Thanks.

Praise Others Project (December 3rd) - Barbara Walters Price

The "Praise Others Project" is now onto day three. The purpose of this series in the month of December is to praise other bloggers and authors whom have made an impact on me in some way (aka, to say "thank you") and to do so in a public way. While most of this blog is dedicated to my book, my opinions about networking, marketing, sales, PR, business development and other topics that I choose to rant about...."The Praise Others Project" is about others.

Today I am praising blogger Barbara Walters Price from the "BW Price Marketing U Blog". Barbara is the SVP of Marketing at Mercer Capital Management. She is the mother of two young daughters and writes a very informative blog on a variety of interesting marketing topics.

While I do not know Barbara personally, she has become one of my true "blog friends" over the past year. She is always supportive of what other bloggers do, and is always one to praise the efforts of others she encounters around the blogosphere. Too many bloggers are so focused on positioning themselves as an "expert", that they do not ever highlight any idea that is not their own. Barabara IS an expert (so she does not need to spend the time trying to prove it to the world). Her expertise shines though and she is so open about what she still has to learn.

Click here to read her blog. While she does not post often enough, you will find some useful things in what she writes.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Praise Others Project (December 2nd) - Stephen R. Covey

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is one book that everyone should have to read. MANDATORY, no choice! It was a life changing read for me when I was 25-years-old (wow, that was 15 years ago, YIKES), and one of only four books I have ever read twice!

I do not know Dr. Covey. I have never met him in person. I have never seen him speak live before an audience. But I feel that he had a huge influence on my life.

I could not imagine praising books and authors that I admire without including this classic. When I do public speaking about networking, business development and success I always ask the audience if they have read The Seven Habits. A bunch of hands always leap into the air, but never as many as one would think in a professional setting. After my presentation people will ask me if Covey's book is as good as they have heard. "Yes!, it is".

Thank you to Steven R. Covey for his important work that has touched so many people around the world. I hope someday our paths will cross and I can meet Dr. Covey, as I would like to say "thank you" in person.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Praise Others Project (December 1st) - Steve Harper

I met Steve Harper eighteen months ago when he released his book, The Ripple Effect. Steve lives Austin, Texas (where I live), and since we were both about to complete books on the topic of "networking", we were introduced by a mutual friend. How we had never met before was surprising, as we both knew many of the same people in Austin and beyond.

Steve is more than just the author of a great book, he his a successful entrepreneur, blogger, business consultant, devoted family-man, friend, coach, speaker/trainer, coffee house stalker, and all around good guy.

He has a post on his blog this week that is right in line with the theme of "The Praise Others Project", where he talks about being happy for others success, rather than feeling that their victory diminishes your own. He shares an analogy about if one person has more pie it is not taking away from your own pie. He is right about that. My father always taught "be happy with the good things you have in your life and not so concerned with other people's stuff".

Steve is more than just a slice of pie....he is the whole dessert tray!!! You should read his blog and his book...and if you live in Austin, Texas - you should attend one of his "8 Minute Ripple Seminars".

Have A Great Day.

thom

Tune in everyday in December for The Praise Others Project.

If you are Steve Harper, CLICK HERE!

Friday Parade - Online Networking in the Web 2.0 World

I had the opportunity yesterday to meet with Hoover's, Inc interim president, Paul Pellman, and learn more about Hoover's new online social networking tool, Hoover's Connect. The new product is a joint venture between Hoover's and Visible Path (Visible Path Founder and CEO, Antony Brydon was there too, via conference call) and is the next generation of social networking tools (think Web 2.0)

While MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn, ecademy, Ryze, Friendster and others have been the first movers in this space, to often they are seen as just a connect the dots parlor game (think "The Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon"). Many members of these online communities dilute the services by making huge numbers of "contacts" with people whom they do not really have a personal relationship. Collecting contacts for many is the prize, rather than creating a business development tool.

In the real world a "relationship" is not just a digital link to a stranger. A true contact is some whom you know well and who will happily introduce you to people they know. A "friend" is someone you have come to know well.

On most sites my best friend for twenty years (who is Godfather to my daughter) is an equal link to some random person I have never met, but accepted into my "network" on a whim. There is, in real life, a difference between those two contacts, and Hoover's Connect has the intuition to know that difference.

Their software will analyze the types of communications you have with your contacts by looking at emails, meetings and other functions within Outlook. It will not read the actual correspondence (privacy issues are important to these folks!), but it will examine the frequency and types of interactions, thus being able to rank which contacts are most important in your network.

Their tool is "Trusted, Intelligent and Private". They hope this will appeal to more of the business community than the existing services in this space.

While Hoover's Connect does not solve all the problems of social networking (nor will it provide "world peace"), it does address many of the obstacles that have kept business professionals from embracing online social networks as a useful tool to accelerate sales.

I see their biggest challenge as the re-education of business users, who already have developed strong preconceived opinions about the use of such online tools. However, with the younger generation coming up fast (over 70% of college students utilize Facebook or MySpace on a regular basis), the acceptance of online social services will naturally increase in the next few years.

Their product will not go live until early in 2007, but for now you can learn more at their website and sign up to receive information about the pending release. I will be watching Hoover's Connect closely once it is released to the public, and I will report back on my findings!

Have A Great Day.

thom

Praise Others Project

Each day in the month of December I will highlight a blog, blogger, book or author whom I have come to know (personally or through their work) and that I admire.

Life should not always be about "me" and my opinions (even on my own blog). And besides....it is the books and blogs I read, along with the amazing people who have come into my life, that make me who I am. I will use this "POP" series to praise others for the great work they do and how they have touched my life.

My desire is that all of the regular readers of The Some Assembly Required Blog (and those who stumble upon SAR by accident) will click through the links and discover these amazing people and their writings.

Stay tuned!

thom

You Never Know Who You Will Meet

I attended an event called The Toast of the Town this week, hosted by The Young Men's Business League, The Young Women's Alliance, Austin Under Forty, and Catalyst 8 (four charitable organizations that cater to the under 40 crowd, which I have now departed). It was quite the shin-dig and there were some good networking opportunities. I met many cool new folks that I did not know before, and got to catch up with old friends.

The highlight of the conversations was when I met Jonathon Morgan and Amanda Butterfield, who are the co-artistic directors of Yellow Tape Construction Company. This is a very hip performing arts group that is staging some very interesting plays in the Austin area.

From their website:

Yellow Tape Construction Co. is here to further the next generation of a truly great, wholly original, definitively American performance aesthetic. At the intersection of dance, theatre, music and performance art, we are creating a new community of artists and patrons -- laying a foundation of strength and support through innovative arts programming and fearless new work.

They were very fun and cool, and I look forward to learning more about the plays they produce. They apparently bring a digital camera with them everywhere and have a photo blog of the people they meet along their way. I guess I made the cut, as here is my picture with Jonathon from their blog!

Who knows, maybe some avant garde performance art based on networking could be in the future! Some Assembly Required, The Musical. Hey, a kid can dream!!!

Have A Great Day.

thom

Create A Global Microbrand

Hugh Macleod at The Gapingvoid Blog has become my favorite new blogger recently. He draws very funny businesscard size cartoons with each post, but more importantly his views on stuff are very insightful.

He has a post on creating a Global Microbrand that you should read. It focuses mainly on how the internet and blogs have made it easier for people to develop their brand and thus sell more of their product or services. I agree.

I do wonder, however, if what he suggests is not getting harder because of the overpopulation of the blogosphere. He, and the others he sights (ie: Robert Scoble), began carving out their blogging fame long ago when most people had not yet heard of blogs. Now that it seems everyone I meet has started a blog, and thus getting traction is going to be more difficult. I started this blog eighteen months ago and gained a readership quickly. However growing the traffic becomes more of a challenge with each month as more and more blogs pop up around the world. The choices for the blog readers have become overwhelming, and there is no end in sight.

Have A Great Day.

Thom Singer
thom@thomsinger.com
www.thomsinger.com

Concentrate

Distractions are everywhere.

No matter what I try to accomplish, there are always other things that pop up and block my path to success or knock me off course. Sometimes I can overcome these distractions, but other times they keep me from reaching my target goals.

Concentration is necessary to achieve success. You have to learn to ignore the cell phone, email, the Blackberry, the internet, television, radio, the iPod, and all the other "tools" that deliver information to us everyday. All the electronic devices that have entered out lives in the past few decades were designed to make us more productive,.... but they have the opposite effect if not kept in check.

Different people have different ways to make sure that they concentrate on the tasks at hand. Some are fortunate to have the natural ability to focus. I am not one of those people. I need to turn off the email alert ("ding") on my computer, close my office door, and let the phone go to voicemail when I am working on a project. I keep the radio off, and limit my internet research to just a few times a day. I am easily distracted and find that a co-worker stopping by can lead to a thirty minute chat about anything, .... derailing my work.

However, when I can work without distractions I can accomplish amazing results. When I enter "the zone of productivity" I have fun. Even if the task is making cold-calls (does anyone LIKE doing that?) I am enjoying my job.

Look around at the people you admire in your industry. Those who are at the top of the success ladder will often have superior concentration abilities, or have a great administrative assistant who can compensate for their scatter-brained tendencies. If you do not have either, then learn how to concentrate on the current project and do not let yourself become distracted.

Concentrate!

Have A Great Day.

Thom Singer
thom@thomsinger.com
www.thomsinger.com

****PS- Are you organizing a 2007 planning session for your company, law firm or professional association? My 90-minute seminar, "Some Assembly Required: How to Make, Grow and Keep Your Business Relationships" is a dynamic, interactive course on developing your business / social / professional network and is guaranteed to foster discussion and inspire your team. Contact me for more information (512)970-0398 or thom@thomsinger.com. Speaker's Bureaus are encouraged to call, as I am happy to work with professional bureaus and agents.

Webcast Worth Watching

I invested nearly 2 hours to watch this online webcast that was sponsored by OPEN from American Express. It is all about creativity in business: standing out from the crowd, doing amazing things, and soaring to success.

They cover:

• Finding Your Brand Space
• Creating Customer Demand
• Keeping Your Business Moving

"If you had to choose an address of where to open your business, you would want it to be located at the corner of Art and Commerce". -- Mario Batali, restaurateur and celebrity chef.

Wow! That line rang in my ears all day after I heard it on this webcast.

Invest the time ..... click here and watch the video.

Now I realize that most people will just blow it off and not watch the video, even though it is full of amazing stuff that can help anyone in any industry. I expect this, especially from those in the legal profession who read this blog. They will think that their valuable time cannot be spent watching a webcast ("if it is not billable, it is not worth doing",... I once heard from a lawyer!). Your loss.

Have A Great Day.

Thom Singer
thom@thomsinger.com
www.thomsinger.com

Online Networking - What It Is NOT

MySpace, LinkedIn, Friendster, Ryze, ecademy, Hoovers Connect and countless other social networking services are all the rage. The number one question I get when I give a speech on networking is what I think about the online tools now available. My answer is that they are just that...A Tool. Online networking is not the same thing as face-to-face networking. When adding someone to your online community it does not make them your “instant friend”. Real friendships are developed over time and require the discovery of mutual interests and shared experiences.

Many people who do not enjoy the whole concept of networking will often look to these sites as the magic bullet to building relationships. They look at their number of contacts and feel confident that they are doing a good job of creating a network. This may or may not be the case. Just because you have a digital link does not mean that the other person will have your best interest at heart. It is very difficult to know someone by reading his or her profile. Working in the same industry of having similar interests is not enough for the basis of a strong mutually beneficial business relationship. It does not work that way for online dating, and it does not work in the professional world either.

Some people in the online networking world will mistakenly view the quantity of connections as the important element. These people will invite hundreds (if not thousands) of people to join their networks without ever having met them. I have made it a policy that I do not link to anyone that I have not met personally (or had multiple email or phone conversations). When I speak to businesses on the topic of networking I will often get invitations to join the network of those in the audience. Even if I talked to the person after the presentation, I usually refuse these connections, as meeting someone at a seminar and having a short chat does not make them my friend or business associate. It is my belief that having lots of links to those that you do not really know deletes the power of your network.

Since members of these online communities are not pre-screened or educated on the purpose of the service, you have no way of knowing the goals of people whom you might encounter. Just because someone has a profile on one of the social networking sites does not mean they welcome everyone on the planet to contact them. Just as when you meet someone at a face-to-face event, you need to follow proper the steps to begin a conversation. Do not assume you have the right to call on them because you stumbled upon them online.

The Internet has changed, and will continue to chance, the way we do business. It can be an incredible tool for you to use in your efforts to build your network. The access that you now have to people in your local geographic area or across the globe is unprecedented in history. However, since people do business with people they know and like, you must remember that “knowing” and “liking” someone on a personal level requires continued contact and interaction.

You might “know and like” celebrities like Tom Cruise or a political leader (Bill Clinton or John McCain?), but they most likely not part of your network. The same is true for random people you might discover through online services. Reading a profile and sending an email is not equal to a multi-year, mutually beneficial friendship.

Have A Great Day.

Thom Singer
www.thomsinger.com
thom@thomsinger.com

ReviewMe Experiment Gone Bad, or Did It???

A few weeks ago I reviewed a paid blogger review service called ReviewMe. It is controversial, the theory that bloggers could be paid to post about a product or service, but I was interested in how it would work, so I signed up.

A lot of bloggers signed up, but apparently the advertisers are not, in that I had not seen any chance to review anything. (Granted, maybe there are a lot of advertisers and nobody has selected me to review them!). So I decided to do an experiment of the service by paying a blogger to review my on-line networking skills assessment tool, The Networking Quotient.

I did some homework and looked for a blog that I enjoyed the authors style. One where the blogger covered a wide variety of business related topics. I found one that had a focus on entrepreneurs, and paid my money to ReviewMe for www.yolksmoke.com to do a review.

The good news is the service worked. The blogger almost immediately reviewed The Networking Quotient.

The bad news is he did not like the quiz. In fact, he did not invest the whole six to eight minutes to complete the quiz, because he did not find any value to spending his time taking a quiz on the topic of business networking skills....and he reviewed it accordingly.

He was cynical in that he thought a negative review might cause him not to get paid. I would never protest his payment, as ReviewMe is very clear that a negative review is a risk you take by using the service. I was a bit offended that he might think I would not pay him....but then I realized that he could only think that because we do not know each other. My whole belief system is based on the importance of real relationships. This is a lesson learned on never thinking that digital connections through an online service of any kind could replace true human connections.

I was not horrified by the review. He was very professional in his tone, but the quiz was not on a topic that was of interest to him. The quiz is designed to make people think about how they react in certain areas of their efforts to make, grow and keep their business relationships....and to show them a comparison of their score to others who have taken taken the quiz. It is a simple assessment tool.

I am not one who believes that everyone in the world will (or should) always agree with my views. Nor will they like everything that I do. In my life I have met people who get angry when others do not fall into step with them. Not me.

Additionally, from negative feedback (delivered in a professional manner) we can learn how to improve. The Networking Quotient is evolving from the positive and negative reactions of those who have invested the time to take the quiz. It will get better, and more valuable, directly because of such comments.

My experiment with ReviewMe did not turn out as I might have wished, but it was worth the investment. For anyone who would look to use this type of service for PR purposes, beware. Negative reviews are a real possibility. And you may not get someone as professional as my reviewer. The web is full of people with axes to grind and who can make all kinds of harsh personal attacks.

My final review of the service is that ReviewMe should be approached with caution. You should know the blogger that you are approaching for a review, so that you can understand their preconceived opinions of your product or service. But if you know them well, the odds are they would happily review you for free....so then you have no need for the paid service. If you think of ReviewMe as a shortcut to making a mutually beneficial friendship with another blogger, you might not be happy with the results.

I am happy to have tried this service, even though my reviewer did not have a good review, as I learned a lot of things from the experiment.

Have A Great Day.

And just for kicks, please take a few minutes to take The Networking Quotient Quiz. If you don't like it, don't tell me! Just kidding, I welcome all feedback!!!

Thom Singer
www.thomsinger.com
thom@thomsinger.com