People communicate in so many different ways today. There’s LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, instant messaging, text messaging, email, phone, forums, comments, face to face, fax and written letter.
But sometimes we get so caught up in sending out the message that we forget who we’re sending it to. If we’re not careful the message might not be received or it might be misinterpreted. » Read more: Keys to successful communication
On Wednesday, my colleague Jeff and I went to an IAAP (International Association of Administrative Professionals) meeting in Pleasanton, California. We made a presentation on Personal Marketing and Social Networking. During the first part of the meeting probably 10 minutes was an Ice Breaker exercise. Its purpose of course was to break the ice and encourage networking. » Read more: Simulated Mixer in Ice Breaker Activity
Employment-wise 2009 was an uncomfortable year for lots of people. It seems like either someone was unemployed or they knew someone that was unemployed. Everybody knows at least one person that was effected by the recession. Many were thrown into circumstances beyond their control. Steps taken to control their situations didn’t always yield expected results as they had a decade ago. » Read more: Step out of your comfort zone in 2010
Games help people stay mentally sharp by challenging their skills and abilities. They also serve as inexpensive entertainment.
Games come in all kinds of forms
Some games are designed to be played solo where your goal is to finish the game. These games tend to be based on memory, pattern recognition, logic and persistance. If you finish the game then you win. Other games are designed to be played head to head. These are usually games of chance or strategy or a combination. There are usually points involved and depending on the point system the lowest or the highest score wins. The last kind of games are designed to encourage teamwork, social skills and comradery.
Here are a few of my favorite games:
Reply to this post. What are your favorite games?
Social Networking
I recently witnessed the positive aspects of a Social Networking working. I am a member of Professional Resource Network. PRN is a network of professionals dedicated to helping each other stay sharp in their job skills and to keep focused on helping others members improve their employment situation. PRN encourages its members to join LinkedIn to increase their professional related contacts. They also encourage other networking activities.
 PRN Network |
 Wes / Jeff Network |
 Jeff''s Network |
 Professional Network. |
Networking Works
So here’s a description of our network connections and the power of this network.
I met Jeff through PRN about 7 months ago. Over the past few months our network connection has become very strong.
Up until a few weeks ago, I had never personally met Al, but I knew Jeff and Jeff knew Al. Al was looking for someone with a particular skillset. Jeff knew that I had the skillset Al was looking for. So, Jeff expanded his network and made a connection between Al and me.
If it wasn’t for Social Networking, these collaborating forces (Wes, Jeff and Al) would have never met.
The Seminar
I have been developing a Personal Marketing Strategies Seminar and Workshop with my friend Jeff Martinez. We met through a Social Network group called Professional Resource Network. The seminar covers important steps everyone should consider before and during the development of their Personal Brand and then covers the aspects of Personal Marketing your Brand.
Why we did it
I never thought I would be teaching a class on Personal Marketing or Personal Branding. In our group we saw a need to get our members up to speed on the subject of Personal Marketing and Personal Branding. We decided to fill that void. The question was where to begin. We didn’t know anybody personally that could teach a class on this subject, so we decided we would develop our own class.
Developing the Seminar
We started kicking around some ideas, we started with sketches on napkins, made lists in our notebooks, then expanded to developing the seminar using mind-maps on butcher paper. Finally, after alot of discussion, we decided on the content of the seminar and committed it to a PowerPoint presentation. While developing this presentation, I learned a lot. You should understand the subject better than your students. As we developed the Seminar, I became more aware of the things I needed to do personally to prepare myself for Personal Marketing and Branding. Of course, you need to practice what you preach so your students will learn by example.
The Presentation
We did the introductory presentation, then a workshop to give our students more time to explore the subject being taught. The feedback we received help us to understand our next steps in developing the class. The introductory presentation has been re-arranged to flow better. The workshop will most likely be broken into two parts. The first part to help the students get their focus. The second part to start applying that focus to action.
Accidental Expert
Because of this seminar, I think I have become an accidental expert on the subject. Attendees of the Seminar know I’ve been developing this class and that I try to stay current on all the latest developments in Personal Marketing and Personal Branding. I have started to develop a reputation of not only being the answer guy for Personal Marketing and Branding, but also for helping others get ahead in their careers. I don’t mind the recognition, but it is kind of scarey at times.
I need to remember this. No matter how much I learn on the subject, I don’t know what I don’t know, so I need to keep on learning.
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