Comfort Zone Junkies

I have no idea who the Cowboy Junkies music group is because while I like to hear music, it is more background noise for me. I guess music doesn't have a conversation with me!

Anyway, Seth Godin wrote a post about the challenge that popular music groups have. All their fans want to hear the "old" stuff and really don't feel a connection when the group is producing new sounds.

In thinking about this, it is a demonstration of how most of us want to stay within the confines of our own comfort zone. It feels good to hear familiar music, or go to the same restaurant, or take the same route to work. We are creatures of habit because to do something different doesn't feel right or good.

Do You Dump?

Okay, how was Black Friday? For those of you not in the US, that is the dubious name given to the shopping day after Thanksgiving. I think it refers to what the merchants hope they will be "in" at day's end (as opposed to red ink meaning a loss.) I am not a Black Friday shopper -- so I can't tell you anything about it.

What I do want to talk about is the garbage dump.

No, I am not talking about the town dump, where the scraps of dinner might be thrown. No, not that. What I am talking about the the practice of giving a new networking acquaintance every marketing piece you have about your company in one fell swoop.

Now, let's think about why it is not such a good idea.

First of all, from a marketing point of view, if you give it all at once, you have no reason to go back.

Second, with a thick folder of information, you may overwhelm this new acquaintance to not read any of it -- that is, overwhelming them to inaction.

Third, most people don't have time to sit for many minutes just with your stuff. They will quickly pick out what they need and throw the rest away.

Fourth, doing the garbage dump says that you don't care about the needs of this specific person, that "one size fits all." Don't I feel special????

This week at a networking event, a guest brought such a folder. There were 24 sheets of paper and five, glossy, four-color magazines inside this folder. This person happened to be an advertising representative for a local newspaper. Finally, I found the rate sheet and threw the rest away. Then I opened the rate sheet and it was so complicated that I could not figure it out. That, also, was pitched.

So here's the deal. If you want to attract me, make it simple, short, efficient and non-wasteful. Otherwise, you'll be filed in the trash can.

While I don't totally understand the DISC personality measurement technique, my friend Deanna Tucci Schmitt, Executive Director of BNI Western Pennsylvania, would say that my reaction is probably because I am a high D. So I guess there might be people out there who represent other letters in the DISC theory that would read all that stuff. But it's your job to figure out who those people are and are not!

Do you like it when networking acquaintances give you the dump?

Leadership Toledo, Part V

The post is a little late, as my last Leadership Toledo meeting was last Wednesday, but that also was the day that I caught a 5 PM flight to the BNI conference. So you all will pardon me, right?

Wednesday, November 14, was education day.

Our leader, Dave Schlaudecker, had sent us an email that had this quote about the day we were about to have, "We have no control over what you experience at a school." Couple that comment with the fact that we were divided into nine groups, additionally the students from Youth Leadership Toledo were paired with us and that I was assigned to an inner city elementary school made for some negative anticipation inside my head.

I couldn't have been more wrong.

Mapquest got me to the school with only one small hitch. Really it wasn't Mapquest, just the streets are kind of kinked down near the school. No big deal.

Principal Diane McGee met us at the door and ushered us into the library where breakfast snacks and juice awaited us.

Wow, what a school. Toledo Public Schools is going through a large revamping of their buildings, and this school is brand new. It even has been renamed. The old building that was torn down was known as Cherry Street School and now they are proudly known as Rosa Parks School. TPS has lost enrollment numbers in the last couple years to private and charter schools. Diane proudly told us that they ended the school year (in the old building) at less than 200 students and began the year with 289 students. Certainly the new building made a difference, but Diane makes the building come alive. Each grade has three classrooms, so the class size is only about 17 students per classroom.

Her teachers have been there at this school for many years. As we visited classrooms I saw so many dedicated and fun teaching methods that I wanted to stay all day.

Each day begins with announcements at 9 AM. A small group of students helps with the pledge and the EXERCISES. Yep, that's right. They have a healthy living initiative. Each morning the students roll a big dice (what is singular for this word?) that has various types of exercises listed on each side. We did toe-touching, jumping back and forth over a line and jumping jacks. Diane does the exercises right along with the students. We also participated and I've got to tell you that after a minute of jumping over the line and a minute of jumping jacks, I was winded!

The kids were all very well-behaved. Diane said that really they have few problems in this area. The biggest challenge is helping the kids to understand the difference between home rules, community rules and school rules. For example, in the community if someone says something even slightly bad about your mother, you have to fight. Obviously, at school that is NOT the course of action.

After our visits, the LTers and YLTers gathered to report back to each other the strengths and weaknesses of each school. Of course, money was an issue for many schools. We again divided into groups to figure out how what challenges are facing our education system as a whole and what we might suggest as solutions.

For me, LT is doing helping me to expand my horizons. I want to stay connected with Rosa Parks School beyond just our morning there. Diane McGee is a wonderful beacon for this neighborhood and I want to be sure I figure out a way to help.

Thanks, Dave, for providing an opening for my positive inner city experience and helping me to reset my attitude.

When has education or enlightenment helped to change your attitude?

Having Fun in San Diego

Fun

That was not on my list of goals to achieve when I headed out to the BNI conference.

I think I will have to have it at the top of the list from now on.

Because I had a TON OF FUN at the conference.


Here's why.

I roomed with my good friend Michelle Dononvan from Pittsburgh. We shared ideas and she gave me a wonderful way to market my classes, in-between classes. Thanks Michelle!

We shared a common door (that was always open) with two other directors from Ohio. Sandy Pirwitz and Joani Donovan kept things in an uproar. Sandy wow'd us with a new outfit at least twice a day. Joani taught us new phrases.

We also hung out with new director, Andrew Kistner. He's only 22 and our job was to season him a bit! The funniest comment of the conference came from Andrew when he shared how Joani recruited him to be a director by calling him "at the butt-crack of dawn!"

Laughter. This conference showed me that I want more of it in my life.

How do you get your jollies?

Don't They Understand

I have to talk about one issue that has now happened twice in the last couple weeks.

I have been involved with two events that were giving the proceeds of the event to a charity or two.

At both events the representatives of the charities had agreed to be in attendance for the event.

At the first event the representatives of the charity arrived late and left early. They also did not fulfill a commitment they had made to perform a certain job at the end of the evening.

At the second event the representative spoke and mentioned that they had to move on to something else more important that evening. What?!?!?

Both charities had ample notice of these events and their facts of their involvement.

Today, charities are having a more difficult time finding the money they need to exist. Don't they realize that a conversation they might have at such an event could lead to bigger money. And don't they realize that when I see them leave early, I make a decision to never give them money again?

I realize that they have families to get home to, tasks to complete and generally a need to be off the clock.

Guess what? I do too. But there I was at both events long after they left, still making money for them.

This time.

What's your take on this?

Yep, I'm Proud, Part II

This past week, I was involved with a Leadership Lunch sponsored by the Girl Scouts. It is to this lunch that we on the committee invite women who we consider to be leaders in the community. They take on all shapes, sizes and ages! Of course, they are a diverse group.

This lunch is a launching point for recruiting mentors for Camp CEO, a project where women leaders each mentor one female student in 10th, 11th or 12th grade for just one weekend. There is a financial commitment to participate, too.

Last year was our first year and we had a wonderful weekend with 16 women and 16 girls. We want to replicate or do better this year.

Having a powerful keynote speaker would be crucial to our success.

I convinced Theresa Emrick, one of the members of the committee, to be the main speaker. She has a story that is so perfect for this.

You see, she was a good (A's and B's) student in a small school, when in her senior year she was told by the guidance counselor (who was also the football coach) that her dreams of further education were going to be a waste. He told her that she wasn't smart enough to make the grade. He told her to just marry the football team captain and be done with it.

Theresa obviously didn't follow this professional's advice. She has a Masters degree. She is the Director of Admissions for Nortre Dame Academy, an all girls prep school here in Toledo. She is at this position because she doesn't ever want another young girl to hear such stupid advice.

With this powerful presentation, I have no fear that we will find the 20 women who want to make a difference.

Who in your youth motivated you to reach beyond your comfort zone? And was it done with positive or negative reinforcement?

Wish Me Luck

One of my goals in life is that I want to be paid to present at a national conference.

Well, today I will be halfway there!

Today, I will be giving what is called a Group Round Table at the International BNI Conference in San Diego, California. A Group Round Table is a trial run that is given to a presenter to determine whether the topic or the person is worthy of a larger audience.

These sessions are not recorded as the others are, and since fewer people come, they are more intimate.

But still!

I must admit that I am a little nervous and really I am giving only one third of the presentation.

It's about The Button Jar.

But that's for another time.

I just think it is pretty wonderful that when we put aspirations out to the universe, many times the universe makes room for our wants. And actually I have my friend, Deanna Tucci Schmitt to thank for recommending me.

What would you like to tell the universe?