Importance of Goal Setting

Most of us know the importance of effective goal setting in achieving success. But how many of us actually set goals regularly, or state them in a meaningful and purposeful way, in order to enable successful achievement.

Goal setting is especially important for entrepreneurs, small business owners and sales professionals all of whom rely primarily on themselves for success or failure. Without setting proper goals they would just aimlessly drift along which is high risk. Proper goal setting supplies a road map and encourages proactive behavior that can be evaluated and minimizes risk and unseen situations.

Thinking about and setting goals is only the first part of the equation for success. When you engage in proper goal setting you must define your objectives in simple and measurable terms. You must also identify the time, resources and funds needed to reach your goal. Next you need to develop action plans. After you know where you want to want to go, you have to know how to get there. Simply, you must have SMART Goals. Goals must be:

 S – Specific
M – Measurable
A – Achievable
R – Realistic
T – Timely

Specific- A specific goal has a better chance of being realized than one couched in general terms In order to make your goals specific look at the Five W’s: who, what, where, when and why.

Measurable- Frame your goal in such a way its progression can be measured. If your goal is not measurable (for example, by degrees or increase by X amount, X percentage, or dollar number) how will you know when you have reached the goal? A measurable gaol allows you to have the opportunity to evaluate progress and modify action along the way.

Achievable and Realistic- Make sure the goal you set is obtainable. Make sure you personally have the ability to achieve the goal and have the resources in place, or can obtain the necessary resources to achieve your goal. While it is important to always challenge oneself, if you are constantly not achieving goal and getting what you want in life, you can become discouraged and even stop trying.  Make your goal realistic, but each time you review and restate your goal, push yourself to achieve a bit more.

Timely- Give yourself a reasonable time frame for achieving your goal. Then break it down into smaller, short-term increments. With no time frame there is no sense of urgency, and by stating your goal within a time frame, you are setting your unconscious mind in motion to achieve the goal.

I truly believe that everyone can benefit from goal setting.  If done properly, goal setting can lead you to great heights in life, business and work. The success you deserve rests on what you do to go out and grab it. Nothing in life comes easy.
Clear planning + an opportunity = success

Life as a consultant or service provider

The situations in the video explain the life of a consultant or service provider. I have experienced these types of situations often.

David Letterman and His Smoldering Fire!

While some well respected public relations professionals say that the David Letterman-Sarah Palin episode is a good lesson in PR, both negative and positive, I think it’s a bit of a non issue. As a PR practitioner I can see where some professionals believe that David Letterman missed some steps, or crucial parts, of  issue/crisis response. But this is hardly a crisis! Maybe it is a mild issue to be dealt with quickly, but hardly a crisis!

The Crisis response steps/actions:

1. Apology
2. The problem has been resolved
3. It is not going to happen again.
4. Assurances that the problem has been fixed with corrective actions. Explain what corrective actions have been taken.

 As a PR professional the following is my take on the situation:

David Letterman does not need to do any of the above mentioned action.  As a good gesture, David Letterman might want to mention on air that he has directed his staff not to write any more jokes of similar fashion. He might consider a short apology as well! But in doing so he might just be adding fuel to a very small fire.

This is a non issue and definitely not a crisis. Actually, far from a crisis! I believe it will be back to business as usual rather soon. In two weeks, one month or one year, will this be an issue? Will it be remembered? I think not! Will the advertisers that say they are pulling out his or other CBS shows stay out because “Dave” did not follow proper issue/crisis response procedures? Again, I think not!

I believe there is too much money to be made by all who rely on the David letterman and the Late Show.  Not just advertisers, but everyone  that relies on the Late Show for their livelihood, or just a cheep laugh, all know what kind of comedian Dave is. They all know what kind of comedy is featured on the Late Show. In my opinion, and that of Dave, maybe the jokes were questionable, but not in such bad taste he had to apologies twice. He did so sincerely the first time, in true Mr. Letterman fashion.

As for Ms. Palin, apparently she has not got the lime-light bug out of her system. Any opportunity to get back in, is an opportunity she will take.

As a PR professional, If David Letterman was my clients (I wish, I wish, I wish), I would advise him to keep kids, minors and young adults out of any future sexual jokes. But that is just common sense!

Givers Gain Philosophy

About five years ago I read a book called Love is the Killer Application. The book was written by Tim Sanders, a former Yahoo! executive. Essentially, the book is about a business networking philosophy that can be summarized as follows: when business people honestly and authentically help others achieve their goals they usually benefit reciprocally. A few years later I again heard the philosophy discussed at a BNI meeting. The BNI version of the philosophy is called “Givers Gain”, but the philosophy is essentially the same. Properly and sincerely applied in small business and business networking contexts can realize improvements and gains in any endeavour, especially ones own business. Ones business practice is enhanced because the interaction results in the acquisition of an enhanced group, or groups, of trusted associates who work together to share resources and bring each other business. When someone is known as “giver” those on the reweaving end usually want to give back. The term “Givers Gain”

Personally, I have found that using this philosophy has increased the number of trust-based relationships that I have with other business people. Building trust based relations with other business people usually results in their referring clients and customers to you and your product/service without a second thought. Helping others achieve their goals is a favour almost always rewarded in kind. It is the most effective way of building a trust based relationship with another business person, especially if combined with actions that are honest, dignified and sincere. That acquired trust means that they have little concern about referring others whom your trusted associate will feel confident you can help, regardless of the associate ability to monitor or control the situation.

I have come to realize that if you perform to expectation, or better yet exceed expectation, you will build an important network of associate that will market you and your business at every possible opportunity.

Rules of Business Networking

To go along with the “Gives Gain” networking philosophy, below are the ten rules of business networking. The rules were written by Melinda Potcher of Home Loans in Albuquerque.

1. Thou Shalt Not Sell To Me. If we’re trying to help one another get more business, you tell me your target market, I tell you my target market and when we are out in the world, we speak well of one another and refer one another. Do not try to sell me-I’m your referral resource. If I need your product or service, know that I will call you.  Use our relationship to sell through me, to get to those 250-plus people I know.

2. Thou Shalt Understand The Law of Reciprocity. If I’m sending you business, please keep me top of mind. Giving me a new client is the best thank you I can receive, and I will continue working to find you referrals if I know you appreciate me.

3. Thou Shalt Not Abuse Our Relationship. Sending me a bogus referral just to use me, my expertise or my resources for free without asking permission first is the fastest way to lose my respect.

4. Thou Shalt Not Be Late . If we have a meeting set to get to know one another and strategize how we can refer each other business, do not reschedule our appointment more than twice. I blocked a chunk of time in my schedule FOR YOU, and I respect you enough to be on time.

5. Thou Shalt Be Specific. Specific Is Terrific! If you tell me your target market is “anybody” or “everybody,” that means nobody to me. The more specific you are, the easier it will be for me to find you business.

6. Thou Shalt Take Your Business Seriously. As your networking partner, I need to know your intentions.If your company is a hobby business, it will be difficult for me to assist you. If it’s part-time, you are limited in the time you spend working on your business and working to find me referrals. However, if you’re working your business part time with a goal of making it full time, I am there for you, 100 percent.

7. Thou Shalt Follow Up On Referrals. When I send you business, please follow up with that prospect in a timely fashion-say 24 hours. If you’re going out of town or will not be available for some time, a quick e-mail or phone call to the person to let them know when you will be available will preserve your credibility and protect my reputation in recommending you to someone I know and care about.

8. Thou Shalt Communicate. If I do something to upset you, send you a “bad” referral or cause you to have ill feelings toward me, please communicate with me as soon as possible. I may not be aware I have caused a problem for you; if you tell me, I can try to fix it. Referral networking is about relationships! Relationships and referrals are at the heart of my business.

9. Thou Shalt Protect My Reputation. Most people would rather die than risk their reputations. If I receive feedback from a referral I have sent you that is disparaging or derogatory, it is as though you cut me off at the knees. Please do what you say you will do and live up to the ethical standards of your profession.

10. Thou Shalt Prepare For Success. If you really want to grow your business, then prepare to receive it. I will move mountains for my networking partners to ensure they get referrals on a consistent basis. I am a Ninja Networker-you may not always see me working on your behalf.

Social Media Press Release (Video)

I recently found this great video taking about the social media press release. Check it out! There is some great info.

What a social media press release looks like: http://www.shiftcomm.com/downloads/smprtemplate.pdf
Video link (if dosn’t show up below)

Social Media Press Release Definition.

While I wanted to construct, or find an already published, definition of what a social media press release is, and post it here, I have found this a very difficult task. I did however stumble upon UK made you tube video about what a social media press release is. While the video becomes quite self serving,  plugging the creators own companies,  it is so far the best explanation of what a social media press release is.

Enjoy!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cD_mYKc20OY

Hello World!

This site will host stuff that I find interesting, educational or just funny. Mostly the content will be public relations and marketing oriented, but will occasionally be about world affairs, politics or anything else I choose. Some content will be original thought, but much will just be stuff I find and want to re-share with the world.

Hope you enjoy my future posts!