Kaye Flack

Social Media Friend or Foe?

… after discussions over the holiday period with family, friends and businesspeople I find there is still a reluctance to embrace Social Media as an opportunity to be used to connect with people / clients and to market products and services. There seems to be a real lack of understanding of what a powerful asset social media could be if truly comprehended. Maybe it’s because media reports always highlighting the pitfalls and negative experiences to being online. It’s interesting to look at statistics of the growth of online social media.

The phenomenon has moved through significant growth and is now experiencing AN EXPLOSION…even just within Facebook and Twitter networks, not counting the other social media sites. The power and influence of these networks are recognised as billion dollar opportunities, as evidenced by the acquisition of Facebook by Goldman Sachs this past week.

Just look at these statistics of just one network- Facebook. Over 500 million people are regular users worldwide. In Australia, with a population of 22,523,020 ( ABS estimate for 5 Jan2011), Facebook is the most popular social networking site with more than 8.6 million unique visitors per month !! Consider the significance of these statistics:-

• 78 % of Australia’s 9 million Facebook users have chatted, sent or shared photo in the past year

• 74% have shared a link

• 20% of Australians aged 55 or older have used Facebook

• 2.5 million is the number of Australian Twitter users

• People spending more time each day

• LinkedIn (Australia) membership now > 1 million

• 60,000 in people in SYDNEY are using Foursquare

• 2.1 million MySpace unique users in Australia

• Flicker has 10 million plus groups and more than 4 billion photos

What does this massive growth in online users in 2010 mean, and how does it impact us… and why?     Does this Social Media phenomenon ever look like slowing down? While the numerical growth must eventually reach saturation point, the power of social media as a major influence on our culture ……how we see ourselves, how we relate to others, and how we do business…. is still growing. As long as people have a need to be connected, to feel connected: as long as people are looking for a sense of community; as long as people have a message to be communicated or a product to be promoted: it is unlikely that the phenomenal growth will subside.

If we would position ourselves as master players in the social media phenomenon, what are some of the considerations we need to look at, and what could be considered “best practice” and what are the pitfalls that come with such an explosive growth in Social Media… Follow my next post as I explore the things that will bring us undone or make us Social Media master players

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These past few weeks I have been exposed to another amazing tool to assist people to connect and communicate with friends, family and customers. This tool has been cost prohibitive to many of us as only the top people in our companies could afford this luxury. But now the game has changed forever! One company, leaders in visual technology, has brought this powerful tool into your media workplace and at an affordable price.

Today, I‘d like to share concerning the power of using webinars to develop and grow a global business.

1. Is it really important to understand what is a webinar?

2. Why you can use this to share your business opportunity?

3. Then demonstrate a great low cost option to support you as you build your business.

To finish off my post I have an extra-special bonus webinar from my friend, top marketing guru Scott Scales that he created for his top marketing buddies a few weeks ago.

What Is A Webinar?

Is the named used for Web-based seminar; a webinar is a presentation, lecture, workshop or seminar that is transmitted over the Web. The key feature of a Webinar is its interactive elements — the ability to give, receive and discuss information. Contrast with Webcast (Podcast ), in which the data transmission is one way and does not allow interaction between the presenter and the audience.

The Webinar experience is made up of actual, live interactive learning experiences. Participants are able to ask by the instructor questions and receive answers in real time. The instructors are able to conduct polls and ask questions receive feedback. Participants can receive course materials by e-mail prior to the seminar and also are able to view the instructor’s PowerPoint slides during the seminar. It can be hosted by an individuals and invite guest presenters along with the ability to open up the lines and allow attendants speak if you so wish – quite versatile. These types of online webinar have a much higher impact than simply reading material on the web.

Webinars offer exceptional convenience. They are ideal for brown-bag lunch training. No travel is required. How many attendees can attend the webinar has been dependant on the subscription level that has been chosen by the customer.

The two company giants, Webex or GoTo Meeting have dominated the web-conferencing industry for years. it is said that the industry is worth billions now. In 2008 the industry grew to over $1.1 billion an increase of 19% … So these companies have had the enormous share and have made the price point prohibitive to a lot ordinary people. This is where its exciting for us all as I have found a company called Talk Fusion that has a monthly price of $20.00 per month along with other tools . WOO HOO!!

Are Webinars limited to anyone? And can participate?

Webinars are open to every type of business that you can think of. Use a webinar to present to a few – or a few thousand . Anyone who wants to share any type of information as it can be designed for any audience for training to sharing the latest news of your company, to home based business owners or to build team spirit, for professionals eg: engineers, scientists, university faculty, graduate students, manufacturers and consultants.

Submit your details below and I will send you a link to the webinar where my friend Scott shares in a 17 minutes webinar the benefits of using webinars as a part of an everyday tool to build YOUR Business.

Take time to share if you have used webinars as a part of building your business and what were the benefits. If you are wanting more information of how you can get your hands on this technology as its to be released in days…

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Thank you for stopping by to read my blog. My challenge is to share with you great content to inspire, encourage and empower you to make choices that will best serve you in your journey. Also if you enjoyed my post please leave a comment and share with your friends on facebook and twitter.

3 Reasons Why the Word NO Builds Millionaires !!

This week I received an email from one of my mentors, Doug Firebaugh with this title “The 3 Reasons Why the Word NO Builds Millionaires” Boy did this title grab my attention since I have often struggled with the word “NO” also I know the word “NO” has impacted many of my colleagues in business. We have allowed this powerful two-letter word “NO” to stop and paralyze us from moving forward, today it was a matter of discussion in our Empowered Tribe Tuesday Call
However Doug shares that “NO” is an amazing business tool. (I don’t know about you but I’m into finding tools that work !! Aren’t you?) A tool that builds millionaires !!! SO let look at why would anyone LOVE that word “NO” ?
Doug’s 3 Reasons were:

• NO forces you to GROW.
• NO creates a DECISION Position.
• YES catalyzes the paycheck- the word NO determines the amount.

Most people do not like the word NO. I LOVE the word NO. WHY? By Doug Firebaugh ©

I have found that it is the greatest business building tool for ANY business and it helps you in many ways that most people are not aware of. It is also the greatest force for producing millionaires in business. WOW! Now THAT is a re-framing of something! NO’s are the secret to millionaires? Yep. Millionaires have figured out a secret that most have not. The word NO literally costs you NOTHING if you get one. Zip. Nada. Zilch.

How?  Why not ask every person you know to listen to you and your message?

Even if they say NO you still end up with what you started with! You have lost NOTHING! And on top of that- the word NO has tremendous VALUE for your  success in your business.
There are so many reasons why NO is a powerful word for success- but here are three reasons why that it will help you create more enduring success than YES will.

1) The word NO FORCES YOU to GROW.

You have no choice. You MUST grow bigger than the word NO or you will never move past it. NO forces you to GROW- or GO. Either you grow more powerful than the emotional impact the word has- or you will GO the way of everyone else who has been stopped by it. NO is nothing more than an opinion or a question. It is an opinion because many folks assume the wrong thing and say NO or it is a person’s way to position them for asking a question. AND if you do not GROW past the NO- you will never move past where you are in life today. NO means “Next One” and move on to getting closer to a YES.

2) The word NO creates a DECISION Position.

YOU have to make a decision with the word NO. You must decide- “Do I let it stop me- or do I embrace it as what it is- an opinion- and not be emotionally influenced by it?”    ALL success starts with DECISION and most never decide in life.

They choose… and then change their mind.. NO forces you to decide to either keep going and move past it or keep letting it be a barrier to all success. Let’s be REAL- no one is crazy about the word NO - but it is MORE important to success than YES is . WHAT?????? Yep. It not only puts you in a position that you MUST decide on how you are going to respond to it, but also will help you develop the habit of making decisions- the TRUE mark of a leader and a success -soaked winner.

3) The word YES catalyzes the paycheck- the word NO determines the Amount.
READ THAT AGAIN! YES creates the paycheck process and the ability for everyone to get paid. NOTHING happens until something is SOLD. It starts the ball rolling, and in any business or home business, it is what people focus on and long to hear. But the word NO GROWS your skill set and abilities.
Every NO grows you a little stronger, makes you a little better, makes you a little more focused, makes you a lot more aware of the word YES. NO helps you like weight lifting does.

The emotional weight of the word NO forces you to LIFT OFF the impact and makes you stronger in every conversation, every presentation, and every sponsoring effort.
It is your SKILL SET that has the most bearing on your results, but NO sharpens your skill set like a fine-edged knife sharpener and gets you ready to slice through every negative effortlessly.
The word YES creates the paycheck but the word NO will always determine the amount.
And what will always determine the success you have is the determination and skill set you have combined with effective actions- all grown, improved and enlarged by the word NO.
Use this formula:- YES = CREATE and NO = $$$

Plain and simple. How many NO’s a person gets will determine the success that person gets or does not get. If you get a LOT of NO’s- you are going to get a LOT of YES’s as well. Never fear the word NO. Love it. Embrace it. Look at it as an ATM machine and it is there for your usage. If YOU control the impact the word NO has on you…you will control the impact your paycheck will have on your bank account.

Its interesting as Doug has explained so simply and powerfully that the word NO FORCES YOU to GROW. At the moment I am in very high pressure 90-day goal and I’m taking massive action. After reading this and working through my next action steps, its interesting to observe all the emotions and fear I have around the word “NO”. So, am I going to be crippled by the word NO? Does it force me into a position to make a decision even to declare where I stand with my business? … In not making a decision I’m actually choosing!! Powerful stuff guys. So in choosing and declaring, I’m pushing through bringing on the YES that is the catalyst to my journey. And what will determine my paycheck? It excites me to think that the No’s determine the amount !!!

Share your perceptions around the word ” NO” and how you have solved the issue in building your business or just facing life.

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Today we have many challenges in OUR economy. Business owners are faced with the challenge “to adapt…… or get out of business” as the business landscape has changed and is continuing to change at a rapid race !!  The future is looking dreadful for some good folks.  No longer do you have to be a morbid pessimist to  face the prospect of a future that is marked by scarcity. Will I have enough to secure my future? With investments failing, housing prices falling, retirement strategies are pushed out for another 5 years in the hope that things will improve, people are looking for HOPE.  Some brave souls refuse to be victims to the circumstances and are looking for solutions. Maybe they can’t solve the economic woes of the world, but they are victors – not victims – and are determined to do what they can to change their life! Within my sphere of influence there has been a huge increase in people establishing businesses and working online. But I also see that the online life of many folks is short-lived.  For most people just keeping up with the change can cause your head to spin!

Whether we are in a bricks and mortar business- like retail, service, etc, or home based business (networking or affiliate marketing), or direct sales, we require certain skills and knowledge to embrace these changes. Sometimes it’s easy to become overwhelmed with so much information around. However there is support and help for us to assist us on our journey to discover what is best for US…Jim Rohn said, ” If we want things change, we must change“.

These are five steps that I have worked through to establish my online success.

1. Discover what is your WHY and Passion?

By determining your true intention for yourself or your business this will establish the result firmly in your sight!  What do you love to do? What’s your passion? What do you love talking about and not care whether you are paid or not? Understanding these things will determine what you will create online. What passions energize your heart when you pick up the phone to deal with the next client?  Never forget that what your heart feels, you communicate.  If your heart is energized by genuine interest in your client, they know. How do people pick up whether we are worth listening to? How will they determine whether they will read beyond the headlines of our blog? Fear communicates uncertainty, poor self worth… distrust , greed…..arrogance and self interest. These powerful emotions are communicated, not in the words you speak necessarily, but in the non-verbal, the intonations, the rate and flow of your communication. The same is true in your online presence. Bob Burg & John Mann , in their book ” The Go-Giver” develops this first of five core values: ” The most valuable gift you have is to offer yourself”, sowhat are you offering?

2. Connect with Successful People to Develop Influence

Look to establish or connect to a network of people who are already successful. We call these Social Media Alliances “ tribes” or “communities who add value” . A tribe can be of immense practical value where you can leverage knowledge and skills, and are kept up to speed with changes happening online or in your industry. But I think the greater value is in developing influence. A tribe can create opportunities for accountability and masterminding. Interacting with the tribe is like looking in a mirror to identify the marks of our passion and character. Second core value:  ”Your influence is determined by how abundantly you place others’ interests first”.    For example with the Empowered Tribe where one of the benefits of the community is Tribe Tuesday where we get together in a small groups to connect and build community by syndicating blogs and supporting each other this is powerful way to assist you move forward.

3. Develop an Online Strategy

Develop a mindset and a strategy not only to create an asset by building a residual income, but leaving a legacy. It’s creating a life of significance. “The Go-Giver” third core value: ” Your income will be determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them”. My screen-saver is a picture of fireworks over Sydney Harbour.  Those fireworks create a spectacular display of noise and beauty, but afterwards..all that is left is just a charred tube and a lot of smoke, and even the smoke doesn’t hang around for long…… not unlike some internet marketers I have known.

4. Be Real and Add Value

Understand what you are creating online is all about adding value to whoever you connect with.  The proverb, “Give and it shall be GIVEN to you” is demonstrated in the “Go-Giver” statement, ” Your true worth is determined but how much more you give in value than you take in payment”.

5. Be Abundant

Develop a mindset of abundance that affects every action and attitude. If your security and worth are determined by money……how much is enough to put your security beyond doubt?   Abundance is about more than tangible assets.  Life is about complementing ( collaboration) not competition. “The Go Giver’s” last core value sums it up ” The key to effective giving is to stay open to receiving”

Building an online presence is a  microcosm of  your life journey.  You will never rise higher than your character.  So find your niche with all the challenges. Take the next step of the journey. Be stretched and by that means GROW, oh, and by the way….bloom where you’re planted.   Its an exciting time to be online and be connected to amazing group of people who have an abundant mindset to share and assist you succeed. Thanks to all my mentors, Scott Scales, Kary Rogney, Ken Pickard, Bob Burg Doug Firebaugh Without your input, I wouldn’t be the person I am, and I wouldn’t have the online presence I have.

Please take the time to leave a comment about your online journey and what has been assisted you to create success. Please sign up for my 5 video series as I share in a little more information how you can enjoy success online

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Thank you for taking the time to stop to read my new blog post. I appreciate all my family, friends, my empowered tribe, mastermind group, online  marketers, and people just curious to check out what this blog really is  all about !!!   Please take time to share your thoughts in response.

Over the past few weeks I have been reading Everyone Communicates Few Connect by John C Maxwell. Every page has so many gems to explore. I resonate with the author. John says “If you want to succeed you must learn how to connect with people, and while it may seem like some are born with it, the fact is anyone can learn how to make every communication an opportunity for a powerful connection”.

John explores and shares five principles and five practices to develop the crucial skill of connecting

1. Finding a common ground

2. Keeping your communication simple

3. Capturing people’s interest

4. Inspiring people

5. Staying authentic in all your relationships

 

ONLY ONE THING STANDS BETWEEN YOU AND SUCCESS…..
IT ISNT EXPERIENCE……IT ISNT TALENT

…Its  the ability to connect with others is a major determining factor in reaching your full potential. It’s no secret! Connecting is a skill you can learn and apply in your personal professional and family relationships and you can start now.”

These principles are foundational to our success and when my friend Scott Scales shared a new tool with me a few weeks ago there was major convergence happening because it brought the power of connection to another level .

WOW this is really exciting as this new social media video platform Talk Fusion is being launched globally June 21st 2010. As a friend Glyna Humm stated in her blog post “ It’s  a GAME CHANGER” .   This is all about connecting with people in a way that nothing else can.

Can you imagine a salesman trying to sell TV’s that show only the subtitling and not the picture…ludicrous!  So why would we ever imagine that text emails are the standard for communication?

The possibilities are endless as this innovative technology changes the way in which we connect with our families, friends, clients, business associates and teams, peers.

Our online culture is suffering from email-overwhelm.   However those who take the time to really connect with you in  some unique way, whether face-to-face, phone, mail, cards, email, photos, Skype, social media and video will never be forgotten, even if you lose contact. You will never forget how they made you feel !!

These are the people you share with, laugh with, listen to, support, celebrate together, do business with, and even joint venture with. Bob Burg said it in The Go-Giver, “ All things being equal people will do business with, refer business to , people they know, like and trust”. The power of the connection you have with people opens the door to do business, whether business of the heart, or market-place business.

Take some time to have a look at Talk Fusion. It maybe serendipity  (finding something you weren’t even aware you were looking for) to take your marketing to the next level, or to support you to reconnect with your family or team.

My friend Scott Scales has detailed how you can implement this into your social media marketing strategy.   Also Chris McCargar shared how his 84 year-old dad got excited, as he saw even he could send a video birthday greeting to his grand-daughter.

So no matter who you are, the power of video is a powerful tool to really connect and keep connected with people.

Kaye First Blog Video

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For years I struggled with this whole concept of leadership, possibly in a negative way. I was okay to be making a difference in other people’s lives, serving, supporting, leading, loving, mentoring, caring, connecting, and adding value to people’s lives, and yet when the word “leadership” was mentioned I would run a mile.

Have you ever had a response like that? So what triggers that sort of response when we talk about leadership? Maybe it was fear: an apprehension to the responsibility that comes with being a leader. Maybe the word had bad associations. It could be the leaders in the companies, communities, churches, or network marketing companies are not the kind of leaders we desire to resemble. If they are “leaders” we do not want to be like that!!

However choosing not to move forward because of the resistance to this style of leadership portrayed can paralyze us and is detrimental to our success and any future of leading a life of true significance and being all we were created to be. We can default to be “content to play a small game”.

Be inspired! Change those faulty associations! Even if you stumble and fail in different attempts, you will still have accomplished more than if you did nothing. Just make sure that you maintain your integrity, learn the lessons, and get on with the journey!

There is so much excellent stuff on leadership and the difference an authentic leader can have on a nation, a team, a family, a church, or leading a company (and especially as an Online Marketer). I continually search for inspirational role models to “flesh-out” what is real leadership that makes a difference.

Over the Easter break I watched “Invictus” the story of Nelson Mandela’s first term as President of South Africa. It was inspirational! And demonstrated amazing leadership and focus. “His people needed a leader. He gave them a champion. He was a prisoner who became a president. To unite his country, he asked one man to do the impossible.”
Despite all the obstacles he faced from being in prison for 27 years he used that time to understand what must be done to bring the nation together….

What has this man got to with us as “Internet Marketers” ?

• Leadership is influencing through serving first and foremost
o Be a person who has a giving heart. Be a “Go-Giver”
o Be a person who adds value to peoples lives
o Be a person who hasn’t got a “what’s in it for me” attitude!

• Leadership is influencing through the ability to Inspire
o Be a person who is authentic and transparent
o Be a person who empowers people to step out of their comfort zone
o Be a person who encourages and builds people up

• Leadership is influencing through connecting with the people                                                                     o  Be a person who connect and cares through actions
o Be a person who builds life long relationships

• Leadership is influencing through the ability to empower people
o Be a person who is able to articulate your own dreams and goals.
o Be a person who encourages people to pursue their dreams and goals
o Be a person available to mentor and coach what has worked for you
o Be a person to empower people to be the best they can be in this life

• Leadership is influencing through taking initiative and taking a risk
o Be a person to leads by example by being a person of action
o Be a person who is vulnerable to share what’s working for you and what didn’t
o Be a person who is open and transparent

• Leadership is influencing by surrounding yourself with people better than you
o Be a person who builds a team of people with different abilities and talents than you have
o Be a person who creates unity with diversity

• Leadership is influencing through honoring and respecting
o Be a person who builds and encourages, honors accomplishments even when it has nothing to do with the business you are involved in

• Leadership is influencing through agreements as a strategy
o Be a person who makes agreements to support the team to build synergy
o Be a person who uses agreements to build action/ momentum

Through our growing influence and significance we bring leadership to our communities. It is so essential to find training to support our leadership development.

The 7-Figure Networker has been a valued addition to my tool box. I need the continual challenge to move me forward in pursuing my online presence.

Please take the time to share your experience as you have developed in leadership and what you found supported you in your journey.

Kaye Flack

Consider this quote from my Civil War hero, Joshua Chamberlain. ”The inspiration of a noble cause enables men to do things that they did not dream themselves capable of before… The consciousness of belonging vitally to something beyond individuality, greatens the heart to the limit of the soul’s ideal and builds character.”

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