Burke's Bits

What Do You Do? Flexibility When Networking

Charlene — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:01:21 -0400

“So, tell me, what do you do?” A question posed by attendees to each other as they network – whether at a formal event sponsored by a local business or at a more casual event sponsored by a chamber of commerce or other membership group. My response has changed over time. Partly because I get tired of saying the same thing all the time, mostly because people simply don’t understand. Not everyone! Not every time! Which is why I have a second or third description handy. For instance, when talking about my research business, I will say: I am an...

Do Something Amazing

Charlene — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:24:10 -0400

I read this and said "huh?" I know...lame, right? Well, at zenhabits.net there is a description of amazing that resonated with me. He says ... "Amazing is in the eye of the beholder - Mozart's Amazing Work would be different than my Amazing Work. We should all strive to be the greatest we can be. Amazing Work can be any kind of work, if it's fulfilling your potential." Wow. Finally. Somebody offers a definition that I not only understand, but can honestly say I am now doing! Hey, this is my revelation - not to worry, it will make sense...

Memorial Day

Charlene — Mon, 31 May 2010 08:56:16 -0400

Image by Beverly & Pack via Flickr It is Memorial Day here in the United States. I want to honor all the men and women who have served in uniform for our country in defense of freedom and human dignity, and who have responded to our country's call; especially those who have been injured, and most fervently to the families of those who, as Lincoln noted, "gave their last full measure of devotion." May we all honor that sacrifice. The hottest place in hell is reserved for those who do not take sides during a period of crisis. ~John F....

Spent the Day with High School Marketing Students

Charlene — Mon, 10 May 2010 10:39:00 -0400

I had the pleasure of spending an entire day at the Kentucky Fair & Expo Center in Louisville, KY as a judge in the DECA National Competition – High School Division. 13,000 students from around the country, having competed in their local and state level, converged on Louisville over the weekend. Entered in numerous categories related to business and marketing, these students presented business plans, marketing plans, advertising campaigns, and more. I was a judge in the Internet Marketing category and was treated to some outstanding online marketing plans. Some were for fictitious businesses, while others were for actual businesses...

Skills A Good Independent Info Pro Should Have - Part Two

Charlene — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 09:00:00 -0400

Building a successful research business means that an independent information professional should have excellent research skills.

Skills A Good Independent Info Pro Should Have – Part One

Charlene — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:28:24 -0400

The skills a good independent information professional should have start with people skills, but include business, personal management, entrepreneurial, and information skill as well. There's more to being an info pro than being able to find something on the internet and send it to a client.

Professional Development and Sales Presentations

Charlene — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 12:23:15 -0400

As a business owner I know that making effective sales presentations is key to growing my business. As a member of Toastmasters, every speech I give provides me with excellent feedback. As an attendee to NSA Kentucky Speaker School Spring Training Camp with Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE I was bombarded with outstanding information and excellent tools to add to my arsenal of speaking skills. This past Friday I was treated to her session:“Good to Great: Taking Your Presentation to the Next Level” and within minutes I knew I was in the right place. How Well do You Speak Now? She...

A Peek Into My Personal Development Journey

Charlene — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 10:15:17 -0400

This post was originally published as a guest post at The Life Uncommon blog and I thought I'd share it with you. If life is a journey to find myself, then how do I cope with being lost until then? *sigh* Yes, I asked such a question once. I was annoyed. For many years, well into my 20s, I had the misconception that life was all about ‘finding myself’. I would hear an encouraging word from a teacher “not to worry, as you grow up you find out who you really are”, or from a wannabe hippy aunt “life is...

It’s Monday – Do I Have To?

Charlene — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:17:04 -0400

Sometimes I wake up feeling just like this. Scritchy, slow, cumbersome, and just plain icked out at the thought of it being Monday. What about you? It doesn’t matter that I have great clients. Nor does it matter that I have interesting and challenging projects to work on. And I don’t recall a nightmare or uneasy sleep. Then again, I was sleeping, wasn’t I? I guess my point is this: I am human and sometimes I just don’t want to participate in the day. Then I make a pot of coffee. We grind our own French Roast beans, Eight O’Clock...

With Rube Goldberg in Mind – A Delightful Video by OK Go

Charlene — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:00:00 -0500

If you’re on the internet much, you’ve probably already seen this. Personally I find it intriguing and delightful, fascinating and fun. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. I’m naturally curious, inquisitive and persistent in my pursuit of answers. Another trait that I am known for is ‘doing things the hard way’. Just ask my mother…my husband…my father…my brothers…my friends…okay, just ask anyone who knows me. When approaching a project for a client, I have a process that I follow to help me avoid the hard way and keep me focused. When approaching a project for myself...