THESE SHOES ARE MADE FOR WALKING!!

Remember one of the ancient sayings from your first-grade teacher? It went something like this: “We learn to do by doing.”

So . . . from “Chicken Soup” comes this story by John Holt:

“Not many years ago I began playing the cello. Most people would say that what I am doing is ‘learning to play’ the cello. But these words carry into our minds the strange idea that there exist two very different processes: 1) learning to play the cello; and 2) playing the cello. They imply that I will do the first until I have completed it, at which point I will stop the first process and begin the second. In short, I will go on ‘learning to play’ until I have ‘learned to play’ and then I will begin to play. Of course, this is nonsense. There are not two processes, but one. We learn to do something by doing it. There is no other way.”

How do we learn to swim? Do we get the basics in a classroom, taught to us on a chalkboard, and then hit the pool like Mark Spitz or Esther Williams? How about riding a bike? Do we study the laws of physics, the effects of gravitational pull, or other Einstein-like theories, and then launch ourselves into the top spot in the “Tour de France?” No – we just fall down and scrape our knees a lot.

Want to add new direction to your life? Begin walking in that direction. Put one foot in front of the other. In other words, “Just do it!” It all begins with your imagination harnessing the power of your mind and the energy of your body. Once you choose a new role for your life, don’t learn the part – act the part. One other thing – don’t let that “single thorn of experience” deter you!

Make this a great week!

Post from: Kathy Drewien & Company

These Shoes Are Made for Walking!!

Claiming your listing gives you improved control over how you are being represented by Google. If you haven’t claimed your business listing, malicious parties can step in and alter its content for their own benefit – not yours.

Step one is to go to Google Maps and do a search for your business.
Get step-by-step directions in the Search Engine Guide article by Miriam Ellis.

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Have You Claimed Your Google Maps Listing?

FACEBOOK FAIL: How to Use Facebook Privacy Settings and Avoid Disaster

Post from: Kathy Drewien & Company

How To Use Facebook Privacy Settings

19 Twitter Desktop Apps Compared: Mashable

Post from: Kathy Drewien & Company

Find Your Twitter Desktop App

FEELING STRESSED?

Oh – the frustration of it all. The first quote for today deals with the importance of having direction – goals – in your life. You know – we’ve all heard it for years – our life will be happier, more prosperous, more meaningful if we have a plan, know where we’re going, and work systematically at getting there.

If you’ve tried to do that, you’ve undoubtedly met with a great deal of frustration along the way. It’s like the expression “Life is what happens to you while you’re planning other things.” No matter how hard you work at your plan, there are those constant interruptions that get in the way, and make it seem so difficult. You are not alone.

As important as the first quote is, think about the second one. A modern paraphrase might go like this: “Before setting and achieving your goals, and having control over your life, your days are filled with trivia, interruptions, hassles, disappointments, family responsibilities, etc. After working your plan and achieving all your dreams and goals – your life is filled with trivia, interruptions, hassles, disappointments, family responsibilities, etc.”

Taking control of your life can result in great personal satisfaction, provided you understand it does not bring you to perfection. Intertwined in our desire to achieve peace, success, and enlightenment, there is still plenty of wood to chop and water to carry. The day-to-day responsibilities of life do not disappear. We simply gain the strength to bear them more readily – and with a smile.

So – carry on with your plans and your dreams. They are vital to a great life. Yet remember the words of Jules Renard, who said, “There are moments when everything goes well; don’t be frightened, it won’t last.”

Make this a great week!

Post from: Kathy Drewien & Company

Feeling Stressed?

Your customers (clients, buyers, sellers) are spending more time in social spaces than ever before. What are they doing there?

Are they visiting Facebook a couple of times a day to check status updates? Learn what famous movie matches their personality type? Send birthday cards?

Maybe they spend time on YouTube listening to the next Idol from Wales. Perhaps they linger on coupon shopping sites.

People have different levels of commitment in social media, so learning your customers social networking behaviors is critical to developing a social media strategic direction.

Forrester Research has grouped consumers into six different categories of participation they term Social Technographics:

At the heart of Social Technographics is consumer data that looks at how consumers approach social technologies – not just the adoption of individual technologies. We group consumers into six different categories of participation – and participation at one level may or may not overlap with participation at other levels. We use the metaphor of a ladder to show this, with the rungs at the higher end of the ladder indicating a higher level of participation.

A strategic approach is to start with your target audience and determine what kind of relationship you want to build with them, based on what they are ready for. Translation – observe and listen.

The metaphor of a ladder is used to describe the six levels of participation, with rungs at the higher end indicating a higher level of participation:

• Creators
• Critics
• Collectors
• Joiners
• Spectators
• Inactives

Post from: Kathy Drewien & Company

Social Media Marketing Strategy

The orange blossom is highly fragrant and traditionally associated with good fortune.

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Link Etiquette

The orange blossom is highly fragrant and traditionally associated with good fortune.

Post from: Kathy Drewien & Company

2 for 1 BlackBerry Theme Sale

I was off Saturday, enjoying one of my real life social networks. The nail salon.

This is my regular salon. I make appointments with the same technician every 3-weeks. She, the owners, and the other technicians are a constant. The audience customers change according to the day, the hour, the motivation.

As I was enjoying the undivided attention of Jenna, my technician, this image caused me to reflect on how social networking is like a nail salon.

There is only one personal connection among the individuals in the chairs. A grandmother and her grand-daughter are sharing the outing for pedicures. And yet, there is a common bond – a common interest – in the larger community. An intersection of their Venn diagrams, my friend Ira would say.

The women in the chairs on the opposite wall were more deeply connected. A bride and her wedding party were preparing for the Big Event. Laughter, chatter and private jokes spiked the conversation. Occasionally, the women in the picture looked up and smiled; their participation marked by listening and connecting privately.

I had my Tervis tumbler with sweet tea at hand.

“Ah, a Long Island ice tea?”

“Aren’t these tumblers the best for hot summer days?”

Brief connections.

Curious about the ROI?

My broken nail was repaired. I experienced moments of joy remembering my wedding preparations. Thinking of my daughter and our trips to the salon warmed my heart. Just as I was leaving, my tennis captain came in and confirmed the roster for the weekend.

Oh, yes. Jenna and I talked about the $8000 credit for home buyers.

(Now if I can only get Teresa to teach me how to take better photos with my BlackBerry…)

Post from: Kathy Drewien & Company

Social Networking In Real Life

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Using social media sites like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, Karyn Greenstreet asked people to recommend their favorite books on email marketing. By far the most popular answer was “Email Marketing: An Hour A Day” by Jeanniey Mullen. Here’s the rest of the suggestions

Are you an Outlook email hoarder? Then, you must read Maintaining Outlook’s PST Data File. Learn how to reduce the size of your inbox without deleting email messages.

Speaking of email… PC Magazine shares An Unofficial User’s Guide to Gmail.

No doubt about it. Getting real estate transactions to the closing table these days is tough! Negotiation is the #1 skill you need to succeed. Are you ready to master the secrets of becoming a master negotiator?
BONUS: Get a free autographed copy. Simply leave a comment telling me why you would benefit from owning a copy of Create a Great Deal: The Art of Real Estate Negotiating.

One of my personal gifts (talent, ability) is empowering others. Here’s a quick read from Chris Brogan “thinking about how empowering people matters so much more than marketing to them.” Can you empower more than you market?

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Post from: Kathy Drewien & Company

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