Chronicles Of An Undecided Voter

The first presidential debate last night left me with nothing.

I wanted John McCain or Barak Obama to say something that resonated with me and helped clarify my confusion over whom to vote. Instead it was Kabuki theater.

I am being very guarded not to make my decision based on something negative that is said or done. I do not want to vote against a candidate, I want to vote for a candidate (Pollyanna attitude? So I have been told recently!).

Well, it is just one debate. There are two more.

I have learned one very interesting thing from being an "undecided" that I have been guilty of in past presidential elections: Someone who supports a candidate overlooks their candidates mistakes and flaws while exaggerating the blemishes on the other side. It is just human nature.

What I don't like is when people are hateful. I believe when hate creeps in it is a much deeper problem. It clouds everything and divides.

Look at last night --- everyone I know who supported McCain rationalized ways he was superior to Barak Obama. My Obama supporting friends also saw their guy as the champion of the debate. Meanwhile, as an undecided I saw the exchange as a hard to follow oddly moderated discussion that will never be remembered in any historical tome penned on presidential elections. But those who want their guy to win are spinning the chat up. Yawn.

Have A Great Day.

thom

TechCrunch Austin Party

What a party. The TechCrunch / Austin Ventures Meet Up at Pangaea was a great time!

I was unable to score a ticket to the afternoon panel discussion on the University of Texas campus where some of Austin's top tech entrepreneurs participated in a panel discussion on "The Web Starts At The Grassroots". I was able to catch part of the program on a live webcast, but with 20 panelists it was a bit hard to follow via streaming video.

I did get an invitation to the party. Over 500 people packed the downtown Warehouse District venue and a good time was had by all.

A short list of some of the cool folks I talked with at the party included Jason Reneau (and his crew from MindBites), Bryan Jones (CEO of Moximity), Brett Hurt (Founder and CEO of Baazarvoice), Bill Leake (Founder and CEO at Apogee Search), Kim Hughes, Jenny Murphy and Tom Ball (Austin Ventures), Sam Zabaneh (partner at DLA Piper), David Lee (Sentient Ventures), Kimberlie Dykeman (Author and Media Personality) Ryan Pitylack (VP marketing at Profit Fuel), Matt Genovese (Door 64), Zach Anderson and Randy Cohen (TicketCity) Rob Adams (UT Professor and business advisor), Todd Barr (VP Biz Dev at FiveRuns), Jason Black (CEO at Boundless Network), Andy Meadows (CEO of Live Oak 360) , Bryan Menell (serial entrepreneur and the man behind much local tech community stuff), Angie Menell (Bryan's much much better half!), A bunch of nice folks from Vertive, CJ Romberger (Wildwood Interactive), Bryan Person (Social Media Evangelist), Chris Garrigues (IT Entrepreneur), Ted Nitka (biz dev at Spiceworks), John Erik Metcalf (Co-Founder of Conjuntured) and many many more folks whom I only know by their Twitter names (sorry to anyone I left out whom I encountered -- some of you did not have nametags or business cards!).

The networking and interesting discussions were tops. I was unable to make it to the Moximity After Party at The Belmont, as I had to get home to relieve the babysitter (my wife is in Chicago to see a taping of The Oprah Winfrey Show today. YES - this is the same wife who was at the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday. She is having a great "birthday week" and I am so thrilled for her that she has had the opportunity to do these cool things!). I heard the good times went on until the wee hours of the morning.

My only disappointment of the evening was the John Erik Metcalf was giving away free T-shirts that boasted about Austin's "Start-Up District". If you recall my post about the Austin Tech Happy Hour two weeks ago... for some odd reason I love free T-Shirts! It's okay John Erik, I am sure there is an XL waiting for me somewhere! (just kidding!).

With all the bad news in the financial markets, I do like the positive feelings that are running through the Austin business community and the tech scene. I am reminded that in downturns many great companies are born. Thus, even with the stock market and banking industries going through crisis - all is not lost. In the mix there are several entrepreneurs who will still start and grow successful businesses.

Have A Great Day.

thom

My Lessons In Venture Capital and Banking All In One Day

I began my very busy yesterday at the "DLA Piper Venture Pipeline Breakfast". Great panel discussion with Paul Hurdlow (DLA Piper), Matt Blodgett (North Bridge Growth Equity), Jeff Diehl (Adam Street Partners) and David Lack (Austin Ventures) updating the crowd on the going ons in the venture capital world. There is still money being raised and companies being funded. That is the good news! But it seem like there is some waiting to see the third quarter numbers. While I got an optimistic feeling... I my personal opinion is there will be some waiting before we too much movement in investments.

I also wonder if the financial crisis will shut down angel investing as people circle their personal finances.

Interesting to me is the fact that Austin still gets 53% of all venture investments in the state of Texas. The entrepreneurial spirit in Austin still has access to cash, but I think we still need more fresh investments in new companies in order to fuel the future we are counting on in Central Texas.


I went on to have lunch with some great folks from one of the major banks (wont name them, as I assume nobody in the banking industry wants to have their private conversations appear on a blog!). While the evening news focuses on the woes of the banking world, these seasoned bankers have seen ups and downs before. They were not excited about the near term future (it sucks).... yet they seemed to have the experience to know we will come out the other side. The bank / S&L crisis of the 80's was a painful time for bankers.... but there eventually did come a light at the end of a very long tunnel.

The announcement today about the collapse of Washington Mutual is not a good sign. Fasten your money seat belt, as we are seemingly again in that gloomy tunnel.

I am worried that we have a long, long road ahead until the credit markets un-freeze ---- regardless of what Congress does this weekend. Sad, but probably true.

So my nuggets of knowledge from yesterday: there is still money out there if you have a good company with an appealing idea. Venture funds have cash and want to do deals, but if you are more established and have any hiccups on your balance sheet... beware of getting a LOC anytime soon!

Have A Great Day



thom

A Tardy Thank You Note Trumps No Thank You Note

I enjoy it when I get networking questions from the readers of my blog. I received the below questions from a reader who is an excellent networker, referral source and good friend. It is a question I hear often, and one that I believe is important to those who actively cultivate powerful business relationships:

Thom,

When is it too late to send one of those follow up thank you notes. While we all agree they should be sent right away, what if you look up a week later (or two weeks later) and realize you have yet to pen the card?

Is it worse to send a really late one or not one at all?

Sending a "Thank You" note when someone does you a favor or makes a referral is important. The best time to do this is right away. The longer you wait, the more likely you will forget to send the card. Additionally, your prompt response shows the other person that you value their graciousness and appreciate their efforts.

However, the facts of real life are that sometimes you forget for a few weeks, or even longer. One day you realize, "Dang-nab-it, I never followed up to show my gratitude to that person!".

I think that it is never too late to say "Thank You". If you believe that too much time has passed to still be fresh, own up to the tardy nature of your note and tell the person that you should have acknowledged them sooner. But even late, remember that the person being thanked will still appreciate your note.

To never say "Thank You" might leave you looking selfish. One pet-peeve that I hear from those who make referrals and introductions is that they never hear back from those whom they have helped. They wonder if how their favor panned out and what was the impact. This limbo of never being thanked makes many folk weary of making future efforts on behalf of those who never respond.

Your best way to get future favors is to say "thank you". Even late, a Thank You Note is amazingly powerful.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Washington DC Finger Pointing and "The Blame Game"

I can't sleep. I woke when my 6-year-old came to me needing to be "tucked in again" (this is the kid that NEVER once slept through the night until she was 2-years-old, but now sleeps just fine...so tonight was a fluke). Alas, I can't get back to sleep.

My mind is on. I thus I am now awake and catching up on reading and writing, hoping the urge to sleep will return before my morning alarm clock.

And what is on my mind? All the politics and related Wall Street News. One would think some random guy in Austin, Texas could sleep...but if I can't sleep, I assume (and hope) that our leaders in Washington DC are awake too trying to figure out the issues that face them (and us all).

I am sick of all the finger pointing. The crisis in the financial markets is serious. The President spoke tonight (well, last night, as it is now technically tomorrow) about the need for congress to take action. It is clear that something must be done. Major financial institutions are teetering on the edge of collapse and the credit markets have frozen up. Not good.

Yet while they search for a solution, both the Republican and Democrat partisans are actively looking to serve their opponents a double dose of the blame. From what I have read there is plenty of blame to go around, and one who lives in a glass house should not throw rocks.

I see folks on both sides trying to pin the cause of the crisis on the other side and ignoring their own party's role in government. Sorry people, both parties have been running the government and setting policy for decades. And the failing financial institutions have donated large sums of the beloved cash to politicians in both camps. Leaders and their talking heads will have credibility with me if they take responsibility.

Big pill to swallow here, but this is not the time to score a partisan blow...this is an American issue...not a red state / blue state chess piece.

Does Your Competition Scare You That Much?

A friend of mine was invited to a business event, along with several of his co-workers, that featured an interesting topic and speaker. He is active in the business community and regularly networks in and around his industry. The event was one he had never been to before, and he was excited about attending.

He noticed that one of the sponsors of the lunch was a competitor, but this was an event that cost $30 to attend, so he did not see it as an issue...as they were not paying for his meal (It is common for companies to sponsor all types of business events, and that sponsorship traditionally does not create exclusivity when attendees pay their own way. It is different when the sponsors are covering the costs and attendance is free).

Additionally the CEO of his company had received the same invitation, as well as another co-worker...thus he assumed it was an open corporate event.

While the invite said "Invitation Only", he was invited, as the invite came to his email box with a cheery message of "You're Invited" in a large bold font.

The day before the luncheon he received a phone call from the marketing manager of one of the other sponsors. She left him a voicemail informing him that she had seen his name on the RSVP list, but that the event was "by invitation only". She was very nice, but clearly told him that he could not just sign up without being invited.

Well.... he was invited. He still had the original email, and it had come from the same company that was calling to "uninvite" him. He was confused.

Turns out that the three sponsoring companies had not scrubbed their lists properly to delete all the other sponsor's competitors. Several folks at my friends company had gotten legitimate invitations.... but their competitor was adamant that they must be "uninvited". In fact, he was told that they "specifically do not want you there!". OUCH. Fortunately he was the only one at his office who had been available to attend that day, or they would have had to have called the CEO to make the same un-invitation.

How awkward for everyone involved. Nobody looks good in this story, except my friend, who is very good natured and laughed about the whole thing. He felt sorry for the young woman who called him, as her company had invited him and now had to tell him "no go". She was very nice, and he understood that the problem rested with his insecure competitor.

I had a similar situation happen at the company where I work back in August. Several of our competitors were invited to a private reception by one of the co-sponsors of a private event. The reality is that we would not have intentionally invited them to attend our private party (duh, why would we do that!), but once they had been included in the email blast, we would NEVER have called them to say there were not welcome (or worse, made our co-sponsor make such a call). Our response was to say "Oh well - let them attend, as they were invited" (and next time we will tighten up the screening of the invite lists!). And this was not an event where the attendees paid their own way, we were covering the costs of all food and drinks!

The reality is that every company would enjoy having private time with prospects and referral sources far away from our competition. However, the business world is not always perfect, and when things like this slip through the cracks, you have to go with the flow and be welcoming rather than rude. One person at a lunch with seventy people would probably barely be noticed anyway. One should never pretend to yourself that your competition is not out there.... They are... and they are already friendly with your clients, prospects and referral sources. You have to have faith in your own abilities or you are in the wrong business to begin with.

I learned this lesson from a senior partner in a large law firm in 2001. I worked as the Director of Marketing and Business Development for his largest competitor, but we were friends. While in Dallas attending an industry conference he had pre-planned a large private dinner for several of his clients and other VIP's. At the end of the conference sponsored cocktail hour, most the crowd I was talking with were headed off to the dinner, when the partner invited me to come along. I laughed (thinking he was kidding)...but his response was that his offer was legit.

He said "look, you are friends with almost everyone who will be at dinner. I am never scared of my competition being around, because they know you already. If having you at dinner is a threat to my business, then I am not good enough at what I do for a living". WOW. I have never forgotten that night. I had a great time, and gained a new level of respect for this lawyer, who has continued to find success in his career.

While I am not recommending inviting your competitors to all your private corporate events, uninviting them with such aggressiveness when a co-sponsor has already invited them speaks volumes.

Are you that scared of your competitors? Yikes. Maybe then you should be.

Being rude is never cool.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Hey! What's The Big Idea?

Visa Small Business has a commercial running on television that talks about how "small businesses" have "BIG IDEAS". I love it...as it is those whom have big ideas that get results. The people I know who dream big, and couple that with taking actions, are the ones who never stop having new achievements.

In an oversimplified way, this is what has made America great. The Declaration of Independence is an example of a "BIG IDEA". Sure, the United States has made mistakes and our government continues to have faults,.... but it is the grand thought that we can do more good for people than has ever been done before that inspires so many. The founding fathers had huge dreams for the future. We need to continue to be on the outlook for giant opportunities.

My grandfather boarded a boat from Ireland to New York in 1900 at age sixteen. Both his parents were dead and he was responsible for his four younger siblings. He never looked back. His "BIG IDEA" was that his siblings, children and grandchildren would have a better future in his new country. While his life was hard and far from perfect, but his goal was achieved. I hope I live my life in a way that honors his.

I want our political leaders to challenge their constituencies. I want to know that they have a vision and a goal for what can be accomplished if they win the election. I want to see and feel that dream, but more important, I want to believe that they will work to achieve it. Too often our politicians say one thing when they run for office and then get caught up in the whirlwind of partisan politics and their own desire for legacy when they govern. I want their "BIG IDEAS" to be beyond themselves and their political party. I want them to commit to a real plan.

I see this spark in the eyes of the entrepreneurs that I know. While our current financial market situations are certainly serious, entrepreneurs are optimists by nature (thank God). They do not see the sky as falling, but instead know that success is always around the next corner. If we roll over and kill our ambitions, there is no future. In every down market there are people who succeed, and do so ethically. These are the people with "BIG IDEAS". These are the people who have a plan. Sure, some fail, but that risk is what it takes to discover real victory.

How about you? Do you have big ideas? I bet that you do, even if for some reason you keep them hidden from the world. Our current political and financial uncertainties cause many people to pull in their hopes and dreams. I think that you should do just the opposite. Pour the water of hope on your desires and sprout your ideas. Have a plan. So what if you don't achieve it exactly how you intended. Many of my most successful friends have had their wins come in ways they did not script, but instead discovered something new while enroute to another success. Sitting still brings nothing.

Nobody can predict the future, but your safety net to recession proof your career is to be open to all possibilities and to have a vision for what you want to accomplish. Expand you network and meet new people who might hold unforeseen opportunities for you. Identify those who work in and around industries that excite you. Meet them now, before you need them. Ask them questions and learn. Create real relationships and you will find amazing opportunities.

Ask yourself "what is my BIG IDEA?". Think about and let the seeds grow and find where it takes you. And do not forget to enjoy the journey. You don't need to have an idea....but isn't life more fun when you have something you desire and work toward? Better to strive than to just let things happen to you.

Have A Great Day

thom

Happy Birthday, Sara

Today is my wife's birthday, and I am using my blog as a very public BIRTHDAY CARD.

She is cool, fun, a great mom and a very supportive and loving wife.

Happy Birthday, sweetheart.

She is not here today, as she is celebrating her birthday with one of her close friends who took her to the Television Emmy's in Los Angeles. How cool is that? Her friend had a contact who offered two tickets, and she took my wife as a B-day present!

Yep, I am sitting at home with the kids watching E! Television Network, and in the background we just saw her entering the theatre on the Red Carpet. That was cool. Granted, she is not famous, so Ryan Seacrest did not stop her to talk... but to the kids she was more famous than any actress on the red carpet. And to me the most beautiful! The DVR allowed the kids to replay the shot about 8 times.

Have A Great Day

thom

Make A Donation To Help Breast Cancer Research

UPDATE 9/20/08 - They have now hit $330 as of 6:30 AM Saturday. Common folks, just a series of small donations can take her goal up to $500.

One of my lifelong friends has a sister-in-law who is raising money for her participation in the Susan Komen Race For The Cure (Inland Empire, California).

She set a goal of raising $200.

While a great start, I thought it would be fun to have anyone who can spare $5, $10, $25, $100 or more who believes in the cause to jump in and make a donation. The power of social media, blogs and word-of-mouth on the internet has the potential to explode her goal. Monique's brother-in-law sent me the link to her donation page.... but he had NO IDEA that I would write about this on my blog.

My mother and mother-in-law both lost battles with breast cancer, and as the father of two daughters I find the Susan Komen Foundation to be a very worthy cause.

When I logged onto Monique's fundraising page this morning she had raised $147.00. I made a $53 donation to help her reach her goal. Now I ask you to make a small donation to put her way over the top.

I do not know Monique very well (although I was the photographer at her wedding to her husband Billy!). She and her husband are both elementary school teachers and both are dedicated to helping and teaching others. However I have been friends with the Homan family for longer than I can remember. Cool people who care. They have always been there for me in good times and bad. And Monique is a very nice and fun person with a good heart.

I hope she is surprised and amazed when she goes way beyond her $200 goal because of the good nature of some donations for the readers of this blog!

CLICK HERE to donate.

Have A Great Day.

thom

The Smart Money Is On Austin

SmartMoney has named Austin one of the top cities in the country for job seekers.

Click Here to see full story on SmartMoney.com.

thom

"Is Your Company Anti-Social?" - TEXCHANGE Tackles Social Media

This months meeting of the Austin Chapter of TEXCHANGE featured Jeffrey Dachis as the keynote speaker. Jeffrey is the former CEO and founder of Razorfish, and is currently incubating a new company as an entrepreneur-in-residence with Austin Ventures. He was an engaging and enthusiastic presenter and sparked engaged conversation during the table discussions.

Most of the audience was very knowledgeable about the use of social medial tools, but it was interesting to see the faces of some whose hands never went up when he asked the participants about their involvement with Facebook, MySpace, blogs, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Flickr, and beyond. There was a since of "Hmmmm, what am I missing?" that plagued those who were not in the loop.

While it is still very early to know where social media is going in regards to business, it is clear that the number of users is growing. There is something very intriguing about being connected to others that keeps people coming back to these sites. Dachis joked that nobody knows why they want to know that their old high school friend ate a burrito for lunch, but everyday on Twitter they go back for more. While from the outside it seems like a waste of time to follow the mundane activities of others, the stories of people's lives become very interesting and it keeps people engaged.

So how can companies take conversations that seem meaningless and make them valuable. Smart companies are seeking ways to take the invested dialogue of their constituencies and make them relevant. People have a passion for communication, but few companies know what to do when they capture customers dialogues and other feedback. Too many just have their toe dipped into social media pool.

Companies need to adopt comprehensive strategies for their online interactive activities. If they build it, they need to make sure that people come and that it is relevant. If nobody shows up, there is no value. Companies must "seed, feed, and weed" their social media efforts. Somebody must be monitoring and responding. Social media sites by nature are a two way street and are not just an extension of the marketing department (a common mistake that is being made by many corporations).

Additionally, many companies have adopted internal policies that block access for their employees to Facebook, Twitter, blogs, MySpace, etc... This is short sighted. At the table I was seated at people talked about how the younger generation of workers are unhappy in work settings where such access is blocked. The best among them will not stay in such an environment, and it is already leading companies to see a revolving door of their younger workers. As the baby-boomers retire, these younger "digital born"employees will become more important. Eventually they will have trouble attracting these workers if they are not allowing them access to their online worlds. For many it is like breathing.

Your employees, customers, vendors and local communities are already using these tools, your company should be as well. Companies must embrace the open ecology and realize that conversations are taking place in several places online and bring all that feedback and information into their company. The more information to which you have access, the better your company's results.

Mr. Dachis did not share the details of his new venture, but my guess is that it will be breakthrough. Big things are to come, I am sure. I appreciated his presentation, as did the whole crowd.

Again, TEXCHANGE proved to be an amazing place to spend an evening. I always learn and I am always challenged by the people in attendance.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Austin Technology Council - "After Series - A Funding" CxO Best Practices Seminar

Yesterday I attended an interesting luncheon for entrepreneurs hosted by the Austin Technology Council. The event was part of their "CxO Best Practices Seminar Series", and featured several local experts on the panel with first hand knowledge in serving growing companies.

The panel was moderated by tech industry veteran Michael Cation, founder of NovusEdge. He did a great job of questioning the panelists, engaging the audience and sharing personal anecdotes from his 25 years of experience.

The panelists were:

Michael Barrett, Partner - Fulbright & Jaworski LLP

Corey Blahuta, Managing Director - vcfo

Jeff Sunshine, Managing Director - The Bank Street Group LLC

The first phase of the program covered ways to protect intellectual property, and the pros and cons of NDA's and the strategies for filing patents. While all of this is important to technology companies, sometimes the price of patents can outweigh their effectiveness. The best advice was that people should not get so worried about others ripping them off that they forget to focus on running the business. Many an entrepreneur has been overly paranoid about patents (some with less than stellar ideas) that they never got their businesses off the ground!

The next section covered how to tackle a company's post funding expenses such as office space, key hires (should you use a head hunter?) and other expenditures. The consensus was to keep it frugal when possible to conserve cash, but to also consult the boards of directors and advisers for their counsel and perspective. They might have access to sublet office space, know people you could hire or have vendors with whom they have a track record. An entrepreneur should avoid making early tactical expendatures that go contrary to the board's / investor's philosophy.

The last part of the discussion centered on how to cultivate a positive working relationship with the board of directors. The entrepreneurs were told to get out of "sales mode" after they get the funding, as they need to have a realistic working relationship with their board. Be pragmatic and grounded in setting expectations, as the only expectations your board will have about your company's performance is the ones you set with them during your meetings. All agreed that investors see the entrepreneur as the greatest assets in the companies they invest, so nobody should get seduced by the "coolness" of the product or service. The business plan will change over time, and that is expected.

They closed the discussion by pointing out that the current headlines around Lehman Brothers, AIG, Merrill Lynch, and Freddie Mac & Fannie Mae should not effect Series A funded companies in the short run. They have their money and need to execute on their business plans at this point and not freak out about the markets, headlines or political conditions. History shows that many successful companies have been born during economic downturns.

It would be harder at this point for companies looking for mezzanine funding or pursuing an IPO, but a funded start-up should buckle down and work to add customers and reach investor expectations.

Additionally, Austin, Texas is still a great place to start a company, as the technology ecosystem has lots of experienced employees, advisers, service providers and other talent which .

Have A Great Day.

thom

What Is Your Perception of Me ????

In a follow up to my last post about about challenging yourself, if you want to improve, you must understand the value you bring to others.

As humans we all have a self-images and egos that can cloud our perspective and limit our ability to create real relationships. A true desire to grow and bring about positive change requires you to step outside of the fear of hurt feelings and understand how others see you and what you bring to the world.

Thus I ask everyone who reads this to respond to my question:

WHAT IS YOUR PERCEPTION OF ME?

As I am committed to challenging myself to make more of an impact, this question is important. Your response can change my world.

You can answer this in the comment section or by email (thom [at] thomsinger [dot] com). Anonymous is okay. It need not be nice, just true.

thom

Challenge Yourself

Do you surround yourself with people who encourage you? Are you challenging yourself?

I have always been fortunate to have friends who see more inside of me than I sometimes found visible in myself. They have consistently pushed me (or carried me) to higher levels.

I am at my best when I am challenged to push myself to to new heights.

I work for a dynamic company that is growing. Being part of this team keeps me excited to succeed. Working at vcfo allows me to encounter the most inspired entrepreneurs who operate the companies that we serve. These companies are outstanding examples of inspiration and success...and having the opportunity to observe these business leaders stretches me even further. Working for a great company makes everyone better.

Writing books and giving speeches is something I am passionate about. I always feel the huge responsibility to my audience and want my words to touch others while helping them in some manner. At my core I desire to deliver something of value. Having a purpose makes everyone better.

Even strangers challenge me. I received the following email from someone I just met in the past two weeks. He is a well respected thought leader and business legend in Austin (and beyond), and I look forward to getting to know him better. I can tell that he is one of those people who come along at just the right moment to help clarify the path.

Our first correspondence include this challenge to me:

I want to stretch you to begin thinking about how do you create a business network that impacts business today. How companies grow networks to impact their bottom-line today! These are the areas I work in as well as dealing at the highest trust levels in global business. How do we impact countries and people in crisis!

I know we will become great friends, but I definitely want to stretch how you view relationship building.

Wow. Not many people would so positively, yet bluntly, challenge a stranger to expand their horizons following an initial encounter. It is people like this who make me challenge myself to become better. Taking my career, writing, speaking, community service, networking, family, spirituality, and all areas of my life to a higher level is the goal. Having others believe in you makes everyone better.

Are you challenged? Are you taking steps to grow as a person or are you just going through the motions? Whom do you have in your life that you can turn to for those friendly nudges that make you check your personal ego at the door and contemplate how to set up your game. Athletes do this all the time. Their coaches actively help them find their weakness and build their strengths.

We all need to challenge ourselves. Embracing personal growth makes everyone better.

Have A Great Day.

thom

What Do You Like About Your Candidate?

In a political environment where I have been complaining a lot about all the negativity, it is refreshing to read insight into why people support specific candidates.

My friend Eugene Sepulveda (who always challenges me to think deeply about this election) wrote a positive article on his blog about WHY he supports Barak Obama.

I wish we saw more people publicly tell us what they like about candidates instead of what they hate about the other side.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Where Homes Are Selling The Fastest

A Yahoo Finance / BusinessWeek article about "Where Homes Are Selling The Fastest" sites Austin, Texas as number two. The article goes on to mention the Circle C Ranch master-planned community as one of the tops (my neighborhood).

Wish I could tell you I am that smart. Just lucky.

Facts and Politics Need Not Be Roommates

I love www.factcheck.org. If you spend enough time on their site you find that both the republicans and the democrats distort all sorts of things in their official campaign messages and from their unofficial surrogates. I also love it when the press gets called out for just being wrong or biased toward one side or the other.

I had a republican friend try to convince me that they stretch the truth less than the democrats, but that they had to because of the media. Ha. Meanwhile I am sure democrats would claim the opposite logic. Usually both just point out the flaws of the other side, which leaves me more confused than ever in this election.

Too bad nobody can run for president without embellishing their strengths or lying about the other side. I wanted a "different type of campaign" .... but apparently neither of the candidates on the top of the tickets feel they can win without smear. That is a shame, but it is the facts.

If you have never spent any time on FactCheck.org.... get a cup of coffee and go read the achieves. It is fun.

True

Consistency wins over gimmicks every time when it comes to building your personal reputation, brand and referral network.

Be yourself. Stay focused. Put yourself out there. Serve others. Work hard. Communicate your desires, ambitions and goals. Serve others (yes, I know I said that twice). Be true to who you are in your soul.

Yes, some days you will shine like a star. Other times you will just get through the day.

Over the long haul there is no amount of PR or flashy advertising that will speak as loud as your actions.

Live your life. Be true. Triumph.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Happy People At Happy Hour. September Austin Tech Happy Hour Makes A Mark At The Marq

Last night was the Austin Tech Happy Hour. It was a good time and I had a several conversations with fascinatingly interesting people. Many entrepreneurial minds were there mingling about and making connections. There was a fresh wave of enthusiasm that permeated the crowd.

This monthly event continues to attract the young and old from the tech business community. Over 300 people packed The Marq at 5th and Congress. Fortunately I found a great parking place less than a block from the venue. While some I know purposely stay away from these types of events, they missed out on one heck of an evening.

I chatted with several folks from a variety of cool start ups. The team from Moximity gave me a t-shirt. I don't know why, but I loved getting that shirt. I will wear it this weekend. Sometimes the little things make a big impression. They have the coolest new technology, but I am not sure if they are talking about what they do to the world.... so shhhhhh, I can't it say here. Stay tuned.

I also met several people whose blogs I read regularly, whom read my blog, or I knew from Twitter. I am a big fan of putting a name with a face, and the Web 2.0 social media crowd in Austin is comprised of inspiring people who are fun to talk with and exchange thoughts and ideas.

The Seedstage.tv crew was there interviewing many of those in attendance. I look forward to seeing what they all had to say, as it all looked very smart (no, they did not interview me). Video is powerful.

Author Sarah Lacey was there selling and signing her book, and I had a short conversation with her. I like to meet authors and discover more about them as a person. I purchased a copy, as I have a rule that if I meet someone who wrote a book, I buy it and read it. I expect to dive into it over this upcoming rainy weekend, as Austin is expecting the effects of Hurricane Ike. The whole family has new books. I will discover her "Once Lucky, Twice Good" theories... Expect a report in a later post.

Those of us old enough to remember 1998, 1999 and 2000 have some pleasant memories of the Austin Tech Scene during "The Boom". Sure, there was that whole "Bust" thing that followed, but it was packed with good times and a great opportunity to witness the entrepreneurial spirit in action. Few are willing to talk much about the positive parts of those heady days, as the crash was bitterly harsh for many. But I am not shy to say that it was a great time to live and work in and around the Austin technology industries.

There are hints that some of the good parts of those days are back. I welcome this new surge of entrepreneurial endeavors. The difference today is that nobody has crazy amounts of unchecked venture capital that they are using to sell vintage rubber bands on the internet or purchase Super Bowl commercials staring sock puppets. It all seems more grounded in the realities of operating under sustainable financial models.

There is a desire for excellence that is naturally inside of people. I love it when you see leaders exposing this move toward achievement. It just makes you smile.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Have Heart: PLAY!

I received a hand written thank you note from a person who was in the audience at a presentation I gave recently in Dallas. I met several people that afternoon, and I always enjoy connecting with people after my speeches. It is fun to get up on stage, but the power is in the people.

While I am always a HUGE fan of the power of a hand written note, this one particularly caught my eye because of the message on the front of the card. Printed over the photo of a beach ball perched on the shore basking in the rays of a beautiful sunset were the words:

Live and work
but do not forget to play,
to have fun in life and really enjoy it.

-Eileen Caddy

I was overtaken by these simple eighteen words. I know that this message is so easily forgotten by many who are actively chasing their dreams, goals and aspirations.

Take a moment today to play. That can mean any one of a million things, but where there is joy, there is a heart. Connect with your heart and truly feel.

Enjoy.

thom

Austin Tech Happy Hour - This Thursday

It is Happy Hour time again! The Austin Tech Happy Hour this month will be held at The Marq (6th and Congress) on Thursday, September 11th. Festivities kick off at 6 PM.

This months event will feature Author Sarah Lacy, who will be selling and signing copies of her new book "Once You're Lucky Twice You're Good -- The Rebirth of the Silicon Valley and the Rise of Web 2.0 " .

Sarah writes the Valley Girl column for BusinessWeek and co-hosts Tech Ticker on Yahoo! Finance. Sarah has not been back to Austin since her keynote at SXSW (one may remember it caused lots of people, including me, to criticize her abilities as a live emcee... but alas, she is famous and I am not... so who am I to be critical?).

There will be a big crowd, so get your tickets in advance!

Have A Great Day.

thom

He Who Owns The Most Brain Cells Wins

The efforts to build a solid reputation in your business community requires you and your whole team understand messaging. If you do not know what you want to say to others about who you are, you will never be able to communicate your purpose consistently.

Your words and actions must be aligned and clearly visible to the outside world. If you are not paying attention to your image and how you position yourself, be warned that your brand will suffer. Many people make the mistake of just being head down and producing good work, but this alone does not let your audience really hear the message.

Sometimes people are surprised when they hear that they have a less than stellar reputation. However, they have never invested any time or effort to establish the reputation they desire. If you do not actively take control of what is being said about you and your company, like the childhood game of "Telephone", all can get distorted.

Take charge your brand and construct a network of cherished professionals with whom you can mutually assist each other in getting your name into the community. In the end, we all need others who will be our evangelists, or all the independent efforts are just wasted. No PR firm can spread the word about you, your company or your services if real people are not on board. Word of mouth marketing is the most powerful tool that you can harness. However, it has to be real, as you can fake "BUZZ".

If you are not thinking about how to build your "buzz", remember that you competition is out there looking for how to buy the brain cells of the decision makers in the marketplace. That means occupying the "top of mind" position in your industry. He who owns the most brain cells wins. Never forget that plain but powerful point.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Out of the Darkness Community Walk

Yesterday morning I attended the Out of the Darkness Community Walk, benefiting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Friday marked the one year anniversary that a very close friend lost his son to suicide, and I participated to support my friend and his family in memory of their loss.

It was an emotional event. Hundreds of people walked around the Texas State Capital to help bring attention to the cause. A suicide happens every 16 minutes in the United States, and the ripple effect from these goes far beyond just the immediate family. Family, friends, co-workers, clients, neighbors and beyond are forever touched.

I wish that this had never happened to my friend, or the countless others who have to face such a tragedy. As I stood watching the balloons that were released into the sky disappear into the clouds, my soul was sad.

To find an "Out of the Darkness Community Walk" in your city, or to donate to this important cause, CLICK HERE.

thom

Embrace The Day

Never forget today. It might be a great one!

Each day brings with it something that ads to the stew of your life. Any one day can have a lasting impact on the future. One never knows what is around the next corner, and that is what makes living exciting. Too often we get caught up in routine and miss the delight.

For better or worse we live in a fragile world - but at the same time a very resilient one. The ying and yang pull and push all at once.

Some days are challenging. Others are poetry. I find they are almost always both, but we do not notice the small dabs of joy that are floating all around us.

Facades and preconditions of others be forgot and embrace the day and feel the energy.

People matter, as all opportunities come from people. Even when we disagree with people, we can learn from them. Society brings with it a swirl of options, and when you welcome others into your life who have a different history and points of view, you win.

Do not run from diversity. Relish in the uniqueness of your friends and neighbors. I have found it is from the friendships with those I am different are the ones that teach me the most. I think (and hope) that is a two way street for them as well.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Extreme Centrist Politics

John McCain, Barak Obama, Sarah Palin and Joe Biden:

Thank you all for the good shows on television the last two weeks with the Republican National Convention and the Democrat National Convention.

Fun to watch, but did either side notice both events were similarly partisan in theme? It's okay (that is why you have your conventions), but please quit thinking your side somehow did something special that appealed to the center. Both shows were very similar productions when I really think about it. I am looking for something more from someone.

I am just a regular guy who wants to be inspired. See below:

I recently discovered my 8th grade social science report from Foothills Junior High School (now Foothills Middle School) about the 1980 presidential election. Our teacher, Mr. Burndt, enthusiastically taught his students about the power of the political process. He made us daily watch the television news, read newspapers and magazines, collect political cartoons, analyze the positions and determine whom to support. We had to explore our minds and develop our predictions. I suggested that Ronald Reagan would win by a small margin (well, I was right, just his margin was bigger than I predicted).

I vividly remember the fall semester of 1980 and the excitement with which my classmates and I collected our information and developed our opinions. I received an A+ on my "Election Binder" project, and have ever since enjoyed the imperfect, but wonderful, system that we have in the United States of American for selecting our president every four years.

Mr. Burndt made it very clear that throughout our lifetimes there would be candidates whom we support.... and those whom we oppose that would find their way to the White House. He wanted us all to remember to respect the process and the office (even when we did not like the individual candidate).

But Mr. Burndt also required respect for those fellow citizens who had opposing views. He said that in America everyone has the right to their candidates and positions on the issues. He cautioned us to never feel superior toward others, as everyone in our country gets an equal vote.

This simple lesson has hung heavy in my mind for nearly three decades, and it makes me very sad when people from both parties go negative with personal attacks. In the end, we each are equal to cast one vote. End of story. Disagree, but honor each other for being American.

He believed that without respect our political system was less pure. While there has been mudslinging since the days of our founding fathers, I agree that in 2008 we need a big dose of respect be spoon fed to both parties (and those far right and far left bloggers, reporters, and other self-appointed leaders). Those in the middle, who will determine this election, should be demanding that both parties step up and fight this election on the issues.... not in the gutter. I believe that voters are craving the debates this time around more than ever before. We are excited about the people, and now want to hear specifics about what they would do if granted the honor of the White House.

Twenty-eight years ago our country was divided on a variety of social, economic, domestic and international issues. My 8th grade binder included a list of the topics that I found were on the minds of those who were voting in that year. The problems of 1980 are not any different than the problems of today (except that nobody is promoting the ERA these days).

My project stated the following issues as the ones that would influence voters:

Income Tax Cuts
Balanced Budget
Social Security
Job Programs
Iran
Middle East
China Policy
Foreign Trade
Military Spending
Oil Shortage
Nuclear Power
Abortion
Education
Draft
Equal Rights Amendment

Scary huh? The more things change, the more they stay the same. We have had both Republicans and Democrats in the white house and congress since that time, and it is still the same list of problems. This is a powerful message folks. The Republican and Democrat parties have spent so much time trying to win elections and powerful political tug of wars that they have ignored the issues that needed attention for almost thirty years ago. People should be disgusted and scream at our leaders, but instead every four years we run to the right or the left and line up behind one of the partisan candidate and blindly follow through the election.

Why have those of us in the middle not demanded real solutions instead of more partisan talk?

I have recently become disenchanted with politics. I used to get very excited about our presidential season every four years, but for the past 16 years I have watched the partisan bickering reach levels that make me sad. I think the Democrats and the Republicans are co-conspirators in this travesty, and yet the true partisans I know will point their fingers at the other camp (even though most know they share the blame). I want to see a leader who says "ENOUGH! Shame on both parties!"

While I have traditionally been on the Republican side of the line, I have always been in "the center". I want to be an "independent", but there are no "leaders" for independents, and the media and political operatives only see "red states" and "blue states". One must pick a side or be invisible.

A year ago I purchased the URL "TexansForWarner.com", in hopes that former Virgina Governor Mark Warner (D) would have run for president (that URL is parked for now with hopes for a future run by this candidate). But my guess is that he is not far enough left on key issues to win his party's nomination, so his candidacy is probably left on Fantasy Island.

There is no "ORGANIZED MIDDLE" in the United States, which means that most people end up on a side or become apathetic. This leaves many people I know feeling lost and unconnected to the presidential political process I learned to love and respect in my 8th grade year. If a candidate could capture the hearts and souls of the middle, they win a landslide. But one cannot organize the middle, because by its nature it is all over the map in an already fragmented world.

A friend recently defined my politics as "Extreme Centrism". He was doing so with a laugh, but it hit me that there is intense passion from the extreme left and the extreme right, but passion does not exist much for those in the center. As I watched the national conventions of both major parties it was wonderful to see the loyalists caught up in the support of their candidates. I believe we all want to feel as strongly as those who attend conventions, but few ever seem to have that same level of electricity in our connection to our leaders.

I remain undecided about this election, and have been aggressively watching both sides for better and worse. The attacks and two-faced propaganda snips and slaps that take place also turn off many in the population. Both camps haul out the examples of the others inconsistencies and other problems, while blindly pretending their own candidates are above the crap. The far right and far left continue to vomit upon us because nobody can figure out a better way to win an election.

We hear a lot about change.... but real change is still elusive. Hello...we are waiting.

"The Organized Middle" and extreme centrism politics is my dream. The rule in this "fantasyland" (I know it is not going to happen, but in this country a boy can dream big!) is that respect must reign.

After all, if we want the rest of the world to respect America.... Americans must respect each other first.

Have A Great Day.

thom

thom

How To Handle Friends Who Send SPAM

I enjoy it when readers of my blog ask me questions (see: www.askthomsinger.com). It is a great way for me to understand what topics are important to people, and allows me to create some unique blog posts.

I received the following email today:


Thom- Today I got a electronic newsletter from someone I know. Clearly they added me to their list. It was one of those Constant Contact things -- something you need opt in for although I did not opt in. I dislike this person. He's married to a childhood friend of mine and he is a TAKER. I am not his target audience although I could certainly refer people to him. But I never would because he is flighty. That being said, how do I get off his list? I think the answer is that I can't but I'd love to get some advice from someone as in the know as you!

Wow, that is a tough one since you have a life-long relationship with the person's wife. We all know "takers" and those whom are part of our life, but whom we do not respect in a business environment. While this is annoying, in the end you want to be respectful. I don't think you can just tell him to "buzz-off", so in my opinion you have three choices:

1. Just stay on his list and delete his newsletter when it hits your in-box. While we all get a lot of junk email, and spam drives us crazy, in the end, hitting "DELETE" only takes a moment. I am sure you are afraid if you unsubscribe it will make for awkward moments when you have to see him at a friendly BBQ.

2. Set up an extra email address where you receive junk mail and then inform him that you are unsubscribing, but will sign up under this other email account, as this is where you get all of your newsletters, list-serves, etc... (actually this is a good idea, anyway. Having an address for all your subscriptions and other types of junk mail keeps it off your day to day screen). Make it clear this is how you manage your inbox, and allows you to focus on things like newsletters when you have the time to devote to them.

3. Send him an email telling him you appreciated receiving his newsletter and praise an article or link that you found valuable (there should be SOMETHING!). Then let him know that you will be unsubscribing. Inform him that you hope he will not be offended, but that you know that you will not have the time to be a faithful reader of yet another piece of email, and that to just hit "DELETE" would make you feel bad because of your personal friendship. If you approach it in a positive and friendly manner, he should just accept your actions with little or no negative reaction. If he is really a jerk, then who cares anyway. If he is that petty then he will soon by annoyed by someone else anyway.

Good luck, and let me know what you end up doing.

Any other readers have suggestions? Leave a comment.

thom

Show Your True Self

I heard someone say the following:

"People show if they have class in their behaviors and actions toward life's events".

I like that.

And no, this was not being said in regards toward politics or candidates. I am again sick of politics, politicians and partisans.

I know people who are "classy", and it is true... they behave in a manner that proves it no matter who is watching. Show your true self all the time, people know anyway.

thom

Make A List And Get Things Done

What do you do when your schedule just gets too busy? Often successful business professionals end up with too many commitments on their plate and feel that their world is spinning out of control. I see it all the time. As I keep up with people in my professional network I often hear the desire for extra time in the day from those I speak.

Over the weekend I announced to my wife that I have no down-time. She rightfully pointed out that I do this to myself. Even on the weekends I am busy.

I am working hard, having success, but don't seem to have any free time to get caught up on minor projects or just sit on a bench and think. And yet, I would not change anything or cut back on any of the things that are important to me. I want to do it all. I feel that I can do it all. Nobody has successfully convinced me that I cannot at least try to win the game of life. Thus, I keep plugging along!!!

My solution: just plow through. I think of the cliche "When the going gets tough, the tough get going". I believe this is true. If you feel overwhelmed the best advice is to just take action and get your projects done.

At times like this it is great to make a list. My calendar often rules my day, but a "To Do List" that is specially designed to get me to the completion of "must-do" projects helps me get things done.

Plus, I look at the most successful people I know and they are even busier than I am. And you know what, they all have great networks of people who support and encourage them to succeed. Alas, I see a pattern!

At work I have quarterly goals. As we move into the last month of the quarter I can look at my list and see my progress. I am energized to see where I have hit schedule accomplishments and can focus on getting the others done over then next four weeks. Additionally I work with a great team of people who are all there to assist each other in o0ur efforts.

Sure, there are dozens of systems and books on getting things done, but nothing beats just taking action. My list is long, but today I will shorten it before the bell rings! (there is not actually a bell...that is a metaphore).

Have A Great Day

thom

Fight For Your Success

Most successful people whom I know have not had life handed to them on a silver platter.

The good life comes from planning, hard work, sacrifice, learning, courage, stamina, a little luck, and more hard work.

Thus, if you want success, you cannot back down. A bumpy road and detours are part of the journey. I have discovered that when you begin to gain momentum, that it just gets harder. I witnessed this recently when my daughter was completing her marital arts black belt training. She had worked hard for 3 years, but in the last few months the Master put more pressure on her. He demanded more perfection in her performances and paired her with better fighters for sparring. She did not like the heat, and there were times she wanted to quit. But she did not quit, and received her black belt in June.

The same thing was true in writing my books. The hard part was not writing the book, although it took many months of toil and tribulation. The difficult part is in promoting the book. Everyday I must do something to help sell my products, or there will not be the success that I desire.

You will also find that some people will be very supportive of your efforts to expand your personal boarders. Finding these evangelists who help you along the way is wonderful. Coaches, friends, family members, co-workers and others who see that spark inside you help ignite your fire.

Do not forget that you will also encounter the naysayers. It hurts when others question your qualifications or motivations, but it happens. You need to let it go, as if you believe in yourself, do not let people derail your dreams. Those who look for faults are out there. They find superiority in catching your typos or your other hiccups. Just let it go. Nothing speaks to a critic with more volume than your personal drive to victory.

Fight for your success. Go for it, no matter what is holding you back, or keeping you from reaching for your goals. While it will not always be easy, accomplishment feels dang good.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Discussing Politics in Business Life

In these highly politically charged times, I find that people are concerned about how to participate in conversations that touch on the presidential election and other related topics. It has been generations since people have so been actively watching and talking about the United States political process, that it leaves many nervous about their business relationships. Nobody wants to offend anyone or be offended by others.

We have all been counseled to avoid discussing religion and politics, but I don't know if that is necessary, or even good advice. The current race between Barak Obama and John McCain has reached historic proportions, and it is inevitable, unless you are a hermit, that you will encounter such discussions in and around your professional life.

I enjoy reading, learning, studying and talking about politics, candidates and the issues that face our world. I also understand that other people have different opinions and experiences, which will make some see things differently. That is okay with me.

Passion also can stir the pot. People get very passionate about their points of view. While I admire those who have that "fire in their belly" for their cause, it is NEVER an excuse for being disrespectful. Our society has forgotten this. Disrespect and rhetoric is a badge of honor to many, and I wish more people would stand up and say "Enough!"

I was raised to be respectful of people from different religions, races, political beliefs and financial positions. Rich or poor, republican or democrat, catholic or jewish, Chinese or South American .... I firmly believe that all good people are to be allowed to have their political beliefs. My father taughtt me not to demonize others for their differences. I have discovered through my own experience that when we cherish others for what makes them unique, we personally become better than we were before.

When engaging with others in discussions where you do not agree, simply be respectful. There is no harm in people having conversations when they are on different sides of an issue, as long as they treat each other fairly. If you find it necessary to say hurtful and aggressive words, you will both end up bruised.

You will never persuade most people to convert to your opinion in a casual conversation, so let them learn to respect your beliefs by respecting your actions.

I have changed my mind on a major controversial national issue. I did this because of a conversations I had with a very knowledgeable person, but one whom I thought was wrong. He listened to my point of view, and shared his. Never did he try to convert me or put me down for my stance. Instead, he asked me to explain what brought me to this decision. He accepted my place and did not outwardly judge me. I did not change my mind that day, but I like to contemplate issues when exposed to new information, and over time I softened. While I still do not see the issue 100% his way, I have changed from my previous position on this issue. Had he put me down or belittled, I probably would have dug in my heels.

I wrote a few days ago about how the far right and far left have both turned me off with their attacks on the Obama / Biden ticket and the McCain / Palin ticket. The hateful personal attacks have soured me about politics on many levels. The joy that some find in trying to harm the good people on the other side is not fun to watch. Reading many blogs has left me feeling sad about the future of our country, as these hateful souls are our people. What is funny is how those who share their views chime in with "right on"...not "come on folks, lets be respectful".

Viewing politics is like watching them make sausage. Icky.

However, I believe that most people we encounter are in the middle and only care about seeing changes that can help all people. One cannot turn on the TV, computer, or pick up a newspaper (yes, some of us still read the newspaper) without being touched by the world of politics, thus it will be discussed.... by those who are informed and by those who are not. So you need to be ready to discuss politics.

Six things to do when talking politics in a business / professional setting:

1. Remember that the country is split on many issues. If you have a strong view, keep in mind that other people might have conflicting views. Be respectful of their position. Realize that they have an equal right to their opinion (there are some issues where this is not the case, but most issues are okay for people to disagree) and let them know that you respect their right to their point of view, albeit different from yours.

2. Do not try to change their mind. Realize that most people do not flip flop quickly on the important issues of our day. If you cannot move them in one conversation, then there is no reason to get heated.

3. Ask them questions about their views and why they believe these things. People who will openly talk about controversial issues will usually share their back story. When you remember that a person's unique background influences how they see the world, you will be more apt to respect how they chose their position. You need not agree with them, but understanding will take you a long way. Just because you have a different background does not mean you can't respect theirs.

4. Never put down the politicians that the other person supports. Attacking a person's chosen candidate is often taken as a personal attack. While you might not agree with the choice, in our country people are allowed to vote for their candidate they choose without you making them feel bad.

5. Try to learn. If you think that you are smarter than everyone else you might just be a fool. I have found that people whom I disagree with are some of the best teachers. I learn more from those with whom I am different than I do from those who are just like me. Not better or worse, just different. This does not mean I will change my mind to accept their view, but how they reached their decisions and how they conduct themselves as a person can be in itself and education.

6. Never have a conversation with someone who cannot be respectful back to you. If they say hurtful disrespectful things. walk away. In the end when someone is a jerk toward you are others, you cannot fix them. Jumping into the mud with them will just leave you feeling dirty.

When we approach each other as valuable individuals, then we can have civil conversations that will benefit everyone. I think John McCain and Barak Obama both want to see this race remain out of the gutter. Win or Lose, both sides can be respectful of each other and put America first. Barak Obama, John McCain, Joe Biden and Sarah Palin are all good people who want to serve. If we see them this way, then we can have a better way.

Can it happen? That is up to you and me.

Have A Great Day.

thom

How To Become The "Go to" Guru: The ROI of Networking

I wrote the below article for the Bulldog Sollutions Marketing Watchdog Journal.

Beyond Business Cards and Boardrooms!

Business professionals often wonder if their networking efforts are really the worth time and money invested. They look to the hours they invest in attending corporate events, talking to people, following up with key individuals and cultivating all their relationships via their online social media tools—and then see an exorbitant amount of time necessary to create exceptional relationships with others in their business community. But beware: If you only focus on short-term payoff, networking may not seem to have the ROI "bang" that you dream about.

The fact is, networking goes beyond just meeting people and trading business cards.

Most business professionals instinctively know that people do business with those they know, like and trust—yet they are not confident that they can build the types of bonds that will lead to more business in the limited amount of time they have available. Thus many reject the whole concept of networking and fail to make it a priority in their overall corporate marketing structure.

Additionally many business networking activities take a commitment of dollars and time, both of which are limited for entrepreneurs and corporate managers. They see the number of items already on their to-do list and rationalize that networking is just fluff. Is it really worth it to make a priority of building a network of professionals?

It's Not Doorknobs, but People Who Can Help You Succeed

In order to understand the power of business relationships and networking, one first must admit that all opportunities come from people. It makes no difference what you have going for you in your life or business, the original opportunity existed because of a person. A person introduced you to your husband or wife, a person hired you for your dream job, and all of your clients and prospects are human beings. Nobody succeeds in a vacuum—and your doorknob cannot suggest an idea that takes your company to the next levels (unless you are a doorknob retail outlet).

It's a Give and Take. Mostly Give.

Beyond just admitting that people are important, you must also make them a priority. Too often people assume that those they meet networking will run back to their office and immediately begin making key introductions. They fantasize about how their new friends will bring opportunities and leads that will benefit them in their careers. They go home and wait. When the phone never rings, they sour on the whole idea. What a true networker should do is go back to the office and look for ways to facilitate important introductions for others. If you want other people to work with your best interests at heart, you must work for them first.

Are You the "Go-To" Guru?

Simply having the right connections, networking can also expose you and your company to early industry trends. When you are well connected, people will turn to you with ideas and information. Recognizing how to harness the information is key. You will learn what your competitors are doing, and this will help you better plan strategically. People will also seek out your advice, and you will be seen as the "go-to" in your community for all things surrounding your industry. The well-connected individual is often the sage.

San Diego State University marketing professor William Baker has conducted research on the benefits of networking. While it is hard to quantify, he found that those who network do realize more success. In an interview with Business Week columnist Karen Klein, he stated that networking has "a strong main effect on performance measures relating to innovation, most notably the ability of firms to develop new products." In other words, if your team is hiding in the office and not interacting with outsiders, they will likely miss an opportunity to apply a fresh, innovative perspective on products and services that could establish your company as the cutting-edge leader.

Simply Put, Networking Drives Success

Creating a networking culture in your organization that extends across a variety of industries will make your company more successful. Being known to others is worth the time investment. Using a variety of online and in-person venues to cultivate relationships with people is one of the smartest things that you can do to position your company. And when you support your employees' networking efforts, you create an atmosphere that lends itself to success: information, innovation, ideas and inspiration.

This is not about becoming the new "Paris Hilton" of your industry, but instead about combining visibility and credibility. You need both. Make sure that people inside and outside your organization understand your company, its products and its vision. Embrace the power of business relationships to help lead your business to greater success.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Tell Others "Great Job!"

When you appreciate someone .... tell them.

Last night I had the honor and privilege of serving as the Master of Ceremonies for the 8th Annual Austin Business Awards. Twenty-four companies and not-for-profit organizations were honored in six categories for their unique contributions to making Austin one of the most amazing places to live and work.

I had a lot of fun. I tried to motivate the entertain the crowd, and we ended the program, not only on time, but ten minutes early. (Think about that, a major Chamber of Commerce event with 24 awards...and we were ahead of schedule!!!)

One audience member, whom I had never met, came up to me after the event and told me I did a great job. He had walked across the room with the soul purpose of telling me he enjoyed the evening! He had a genuine smile, and his words made my day.

Speaking is part of what I do for my career, but having people seek you out and tell you they appreciate your efforts, even when it is routine.... embraces your soul.

I was reminded by this man's gesture that I too should seek out those who impact my world and tell them they are doing a great job... even if it is just part of their daily grind. We are all touched by those who make our lives easier, or just make us smile.

From the bartista at Starbucks, to your co-workers, to your family --- we all should reach out our hand and say "Great Job!" The people on the other end of your complement will be transformed by your words.

Try this today. Praise others and pay the joy of life forward.

Have A Great Day.

Actions Matter

Regardless of what industry you work in or the job title you hold, you are always sending messages to the business community.

I am not talking about blogging, texting, brochures, cold-calling, public relations, advertising, emails, giving speeches, sign language or other planned communications.

Instead I am referring to your actions. The old cliche "your actions speak so loud I cannot hear what you are saying" is true. We all have good intentions and a public message that we profess, but it is what we do that really is noticed by others.

Nobody is perfect all the time, but over a lifetime our actions prove our souls. A mistake on occasion is forgiven, but a pattern cannot be ignored.

We all have friends with whom we share history, but who are either selfish or they are flakes. We come to expect them to let us down. They don't mean to cancel lunch at the last minute EVERY TIME, or in some other manner disappoint, but they do it time after time. Eventually we just know that they are not reliable or we dump them. We either accept them with their faults or we move on.

The same is true in professional relationships. Others are watching your every move and developing opinions about you. They are telling your customers, prospects, referral sources and others about the positive and negative aspects of your reputation.

I have talked to many who think it is "unfair" that people are always watching and judging. But like I tell my 11 year old, "who said life is fair?"

I know that there are people in my business community who are critical of me. Sometimes I deserve their sideways opinions (I am just a person with faults)....other times they are taking small things they witness (or think they witness) and developing a point of view on the whole package. In the end, I try not to worry about those who are negative, and I go on about my actions trying to do the best I can.

The thing is that no person is just what you see. Steve Harper had a great blog post about "the back story" a few weeks ago that reminded me to remember that everyone has a part of them that is not visible publicly. We cannot know why a person makes the decisions they make or takes certain actions. Thus, it is best to be slower to judge!

Yet regardless of how fast or slow people judge you, they do. The best antidote to this is to think about how your actions might effect others. Make certain that your commitments are fulfilled consistently, and that you are not rationalizing bad behavior assuming others will understand.

Every choice you make leads you closer to your ultimate goal or leads you astray. This applies to the big actions and the small actions. Remember that and it makes all your choices much simpler.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Pick Me, Pick Me! 2009 SXSW Interactive Panel Picker

Only a few days left to vote for your favorite panel suggestions for the 2009 SXSW Interactive Conference.

I would appreciate you looking at my panel suggestions (CLICK HERE).

If you like what you see, vote for me and / or leave a comment.

It would mean a lot to me if you could vote and comment. If you are a regular reader, just take a moment and help out.

Thank you.

thom