Blog of Professional Speaker Snowden McFall

Look for the Best in Others

What You Think About Does Make a Big Difference

In his new book, Social Intelligence, Daniel Goleman writes about recent brain research: “One person’s inner state affects and drives the other person….We actually catch each other’s emotions like a cold.” The moresignificant the relationship is, the greater the impact on the other person. Our thoughts have tremendous power. The ramifications of this are interesting.

If you have annoying co-workers or employees, and you continue to think that they are obnoxious or rude, or whatever your belief system is about them, you will unconsciously be creating more of what you don’t want in them. If, on the other hand, you start focusing on their good qualities, both inside yourself and verbally to them, you will help strengthen their positive characteristics and your relationship.

This has great implications for employer-employee relationships, wherea perceptive boss who becomes aware of her/his thoughts, can actually contribute to an employee’s greater success… just by the way they think about that employee.

Thoughts are incredibly powerful, so monitor yours carefully and think about what you truly want to create in your life.

To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, happiness, marketing and motivation, go to: http://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html

 ©2011 Snowden McFall All Rights Reserved. No duplication 
or reprinting without permission and author reference.

Don’t Be a Spammer

Get Permission to Send Emails

In today’s global market, smart businesses want to tap into the huge market on the Internet. Websites, ezines, blogs and webinars are just a few Internet vehicles for education and marketing.

But where you may run into trouble is in the grey area of SPAM. Recently, a client said he had access to 10,000 email names and could we send them all an e-blast postcard. The answer is very definitely NO! That would be considered SPAM and his website could be taken off the Internet. Why? E-marketing is only allowable if it is permission-based.

Everyone on my email newsletter list signed up for this ezine either on line, by giving me your card to enroll you, or by attending one of my speeches and completing the ezine form. That’s permission, which you can revoke at any time by asking me to remove you from the list.

I have a privacy policy and never give out your email address to anyone ever.
You should have a similar policy.

Before you start any kind of email campaign, be sure you have proof of permission to send the email and be sure your recipients want to hear from you. Many use a double opt-in feature, which confirms they have signed up for your ezine. Provide education, good content, and high value and you have a win-win marketing strategy.

To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, happiness, marketing and motivation, go to: http://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html

 ©2011 Snowden McFall All Rights Reserved. No duplication 
or reprinting without permission and author reference.

The Right Way to Ask for Referrals

Marketing Tip: Suggest Groups and Connections

When money is tight and you need new business, do three things. Continue to provide excellent service to your existing customers, far above what they pay for, ask how you can help them and then ask for referrals.

Check and make sure you have happy clients and when discussing how pleased they are, use that time to ask if they would be willing to spread the word about your product or service to colleagues or associates.

The key, according to referral expert Bill Cates, is to suggest where they might find prospects for referrals. Suggest: “Perhaps there is someone in your rotary club or church, your gym or chamber group.” Then sit back and listen as they start to rattle off names and numbers. Write it all down, including the referrer’s relationship to the prospect.

If they do give you referral prospects, follow-up immediately with the prospect and thank the referrer. Send them a handwritten note, a gift or referral fee to express your gratitude.

To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, marketing, volunteerism and motivation, go to: http://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html

 ©2011 Snowden McFall All Rights Reserved. No duplication 
or reprinting without permission and author reference.

Don’t Assume- ASK

Get Clear Information from Someone in the Know

One of the hardest parts of any job is feeling like you are missing critical data you need. Sometimes that data is product and service-related and other times, it is personnel-related. Lately, it might be economy-related and you might not be sure you will have a job next week.

If you are in a situation where you don’t know the guidelines, you don’t understand the ramifications of a decision, or you’re not sure of the politics, ask someone wise whom you trust (preferably someone higher up.) Explain that you sense there might be something more to a given issue, and that you would like the history of it. Ask if they could please share their perspective.

Then, make your decision from a more informed viewpoint. There are politics in every job, in every workplace. Some are minor and insignificant, others are insidious and unfortunately, critical to your success. Diplomacy and tact are key in every workplace, and thinking rather than reacting will serve you well. When in doubt, ask. It is far better than assuming, which can frequently get you in trouble.

To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, happiness, marketing and motivation, go to: http://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html

 ©2011 Snowden McFall All Rights Reserved. No duplication 
or reprinting without permission and author reference.

Fire Up Your Networking with the Two Pocket Rule

This Simple Trick Helps Organize Your Contacts

As I have been getting to know the Jacksonville, FL, community, I have attended hundreds of networking events, and this community takes its networking seriously. At most events, people pass around their business cards, and often exchange cards while socializing or nibbling on appetizers.

That’s where the two pocket rule comes in. Wear a blazer or jacket that has at least two pockets. Stuff the right pocket with your business cards. Fill the left pocket with business cards of people you meet. That way, the two are easily sorted when you get back to the office.

Also be sure to write notes on the back of a card after you have met someone, especially if you learned pertinent personal information, such as their hobbies, family members, or upcoming events. That will give you great information to reference when you next contact them.

When you get back to your office, take the cards out and sort. Use either an electronic business card scanner or plastic card sheets and notebooks. Anyone you promised to share something with or send something to, do that and make notes of it on the card or contact sheet. If they are a serious prospect, put them in your contact/ database management system.

Next- think about how you can add value to their lives. What article, information, contact person or problem can you solve for them? Share with them about my Resilient Leadership System? Who can you connect them to that will help them. Don’t try to sell yourself- simply add value.

And never forget that handwritten notes have a huge impact because they are so rare in today’s world.

To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, happiness, marketing and motivation, go to: http://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html

 ©2011 Snowden McFall All Rights Reserved. No duplication 
or reprinting without permission and author reference.

A Toxic Employee Can Destroy Your Workplace

Fired Up! Employees Make A Huge Difference

In his book, Social Intelligence, Daniel Goleman writes about recent brain research:

“One person’s inner state affects and drives the other person….We actually catch each other’s emotions like a cold.”

The more significant the relationship is, the greater the impact on the other person. This is why toxic relationships with people who yell or demean us truly make us ill, and why loving, nurturing people make us feel better.

The implications of this research on the workplace are staggering. You can no longer afford to let that bad apple with the lousy attitude stay on board. He or she is literally poisoning your business. Angry, hostile managers actually demotivate their employees.

When I first opened my business over 28 years ago, negativity and badmouthing were grounds for firing in my policy manual. I encourage my people to come to each other or to me work things out. But a bad attitude just does not work for anyone. You can always train people skills but negativity is a poison that can do great damage to your workplace.

Social intelligence means giving undivided, caring attention to others, demonstrating interest and empathy. This is what builds relationships and what generates employee enthusiasm and loyalty. So give careful attention to the relationships you are building and the corporate culture you are promoting. Reward others and praise others specifically and publicly. Have a success board of company victories. Celebrate small successes along the way. Keep Fired Up! people around and your organization will ignite with growth and goodwill.

To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, success, marketing and motivation, go to: http://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html

 ©2012 Snowden McFall All Rights Reserved. No 
duplication or reprinting without permission and author reference.

Stress Express Tip: Get Lost in Someone Else’s Life

Relieve Your Stress by Being Present in the Moment

When your life is too much to take, whether from business pressure or challenges at home, go visit a friend and be totally present for them. Spend time helping prepare a meal, rebuilding a shed, playing with their children or pets- step into their lives for a day.

I did this when I went out of town to lead a stress management program. A friend of mine kindly let me stay at her home.

Giggling, bouncing 7 and 9 year old girls greeted me along with a very friendly golden retriever and a clever black and white cat. ( This cat can open doors by turning the doorknob!) They wanted to connect with me and I enjoyed meeting and learning more about them. I forgot everything else in my life, came present and just enjoyed the moment. And as I drove off to “Reignite the Fire” of others, I realized I had not thought about my life, my work or anything else but my friend and her family for several hours. Refreshing & revitalizing!

To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, happiness, marketing and motivation, go to: http://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html

 ©2011 Snowden McFall All Rights Reserved. No duplication 
or reprinting without permission and author reference.

Fire Up Your Marketing with Genuine Testimonials

Use Longer, Meaningful Testimonials for Impact

We’ve all seen the phony sounding TV commercials with hackneyed phrases that don’t ring true. That is not good advertising. It turns us off. What is highly effective is the use of authentic customer testimonials which are highly specific about the value received.

At Brightwork, my ad agency, we regularly call our clients’ customers to ask them the right questions to ascertain this value. That often will yield powerfulmarketing information that the client was not even aware of. Then we get written permission from the customer to use the testimonial in all marketing for the client, noting that no compensation will be provided for this usage. That legal document can be important. Real testimonial quotes like these can make a substantive difference in your Internet presence, brochures, direct mailers and websites.

Consider this one, for example:

“I’ve worked with a dozen realtors and Sue Bird is by far the best. She constantly stayed on top of every detail in our deal… She saw the entire transaction through from start to finish…even staying in touch after the sale tobe sure I was satisfied. In a day when incompetence is rampant, Sue is refreshing. Her confidence and knowledge made me feel comfortable. She has great expertise and I will definitely use her again.” Dan O’Brien

Some people think short one liner testimonials are better- such as ‘Sue did a great job.” I disagree. Meaningful testimonials which speak to value received are much more powerful. Consider this with your marketing- and here’s a tip- have someone else interview your clients. It’s difficultto do this effectively for yourself.

To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, happiness, marketing and motivation, go to: http://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html

 ©2011 Snowden McFall All Rights Reserved. No duplication 
or reprinting without permission and author reference.

Fire Up Your Communication with Clarification

Minimize the Stress of Conflict with Better Communication

So often when colleagues are disagreeing with each other, they rarely listen to what the other is saying. In today’s world, we are all so busy, it’s rare that people give each other their undivided attention. To help diffuse a potentially volatile situation, do the following for clear communication under pressure:

• turn off phones & beepers and give total eye contact to the other person

• be sure you understand exactly what the other person is saying. Rarely do we truly hear the message the first time. If you are unclear, own it. Say “I want to make sure I understand your perspective. Could you please restate it in another way for me?”

That action alone will disarm someone, because they realize you truly want to hear them. We all have that basic need. Most people are delighted to elaborate on their viewpoint.

• While listening, if you find yourself getting more and more agitated, stop the conversation and clarify again, respectfully, carefully. You could use phrases like: “Can you elaborate more on that? Please say more about____.”

Each time you do this, you honor the other person, you cool down and you actually clarify their viewpoint. You might also learn something new. And best of all, you have diffused a potentially volatile situation that might have led to unpleasant working relationships. Listening well is key to good communication.

To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, happiness, marketing and motivation, go to: http://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html

 ©2011 Snowden McFall All Rights Reserved. No duplication 
or reprinting without permission and author reference.

Stress Express Tip: Complete What You Start

Get Fired Up By Handling Incompletions

Right now, examine your life. How many projects are you working on simultaneously? How many books have you started and not finished? How about unfinished articles you are reading or writing? All of those are incompletions!

Incompletions drain large amounts of energy and actually create stress. Anything from half-read newspaper to cluttered closets to the classic “to do” lists that never get finished; these are all incompletions. Incompletions are a form of self-sabotage which can create anxiety, worry and tension.

At #Boss2011 this week, my friend Carrie Wilkerson, the Barefoot Executive, talked about finishing. In my book Stress Express, I have an entire chapter devoted to completion. Robert Fritz wrote extensively about it in The Path of Least Resistance.

Why? Because we all know how important it is to maximize your effectiveness. We all have a finite amount of time and energy and anything that drags us away from high productivity time needs to be addressed. So if you are constantly feeling overwhelmed and like you have way too much on your plate, try these:

• Check your desk right now. What can you handle and FINISH in the next 10 minutes? Do it. Record it as a success.

• Recycle newspapers and magazines you are no longer reading. It’s ok if you didn’t read the whole thing. Declare it done!

• Examine your to do list. What items can you delegate? What really does not need to be done? Prioritize your list in terms of high leveraged items– ones that will have greatest ROI and take action on them.

You’ll immediately observe a difference in your energy, and you will feel a greater sense of satisfaction, productivity and well-being.

To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, happiness, marketing and motivation, go to: http://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html

 ©2011 Snowden McFall All Rights Reserved. No duplication 
or reprinting without permission and author reference.