InSights Group

vocal doppleganger

2012-02-24T01:07:10Z

Certain voices must resonate at similar frequencies. Someone on the radio was talking about all things social media, and one of my connections seriously thought it was my voice, until she was reintroduced again. Thanks for sending this over – it’s pretty cool @MellissaFlores! (The subject and her perspective on it is very similar to what I’d say if I had been on this podcast.)

“I flip my car radio to NPR and hear you talking to Kai Ryssdal on “Marketplace” about the things you [Sandi Maki] now best…marketing, social media. And you keep saying “the reality is” in that way you do. I was so proud of you that I call up Javier A Flores telling him to turn it on. ….., I realized the truth when she said her name. Listen to her voice…it is your vocal doppleganger! About 53 seconds in. ”

Listen to the clip here – Marketplace Link

To hear more of Sandi Maki’s voice on Heavy Breathing Just before Midnight visit this site, or to get more on social media perspectives, feel free to pop over to Amazon.com.

Happily now.

2012-02-21T13:38:55Z

(This blog post first appeared in She Writes, Carol Palmatier’s blog on words for profit, for fun and for the $@*# of it.)

My good friend Sandi Maki posted last night about the space between Once Upon a Time and Happily Ever After. It got me thinking…do I live for a future, checking my days off a calendar like so many “to dos”? Or do I opt for Happily Now?

I was talking to my “Best Bitch” (aka Maid of Honor) Laurie yesterday; she’s helping me plan my wedding. She’s perfect at this role…keeping me on track, staying focused on what has to happen next, managing me through this process…I love her. Oddly, when we talked, she seemed more excited about the wedding that I am! Of course I’m looking forward to it; I expect it will be a wonderful day, celebrating our marriage with our closest family and friends. I have a fabulous dress, my groom will look so handsome in his best suit, and we will spend time creating a bond between our two families, making one new one, at a lovely dinner.

Yet I couldn’t help but wonder…shouldn’t I be more excited? Shouldn’t I be obsessing over the “happiest day of my life” a bit more diligently? Why don’t I feel completely out of my mind crazed about the idea of getting married? What’s wrong with me for not going Bridezilla??

Then I realize. I am happy now. I am in love now, with my man, with life, with the very fact that I am. My “happily ever after” doesn’t need to be postponed, to begin on some magical day dictated by a calendar or a marriage certificate. Every moment contains the seeds of happiness, and I choose to be blissful right now.

Yes, I am certainly looking forward to getting married; it will be a fun and memorable day. More importantly, I’m looking forward to being married to this man. We began our version of happily ever after the night we met.

Today is what we have, this moment right now. I choose to embrace it fully, not denigrate it somehow by wishing the time away to a future moment. I’ve spent many years doing just that, and even have an entire 18 months or so that seems to have been lived in suspended animation, waiting for things to change.

Once again, I find myself in the middle of transition; planning a move, planning a new chapter in our relationship. It’s easy to let myself be overwhelmed by the details of it. In fact I had a little meltdown this weekend, not because of anything that was happening in the moment, but by my imagining of what might come. Notice I said “might”? Because once I spoke my fears out loud, they became vapor and puffed away. And I was brought back to the moment, where all is right with the world.

Name that fear, as I’ve talked about before.

Anyway, I have lots to do today; my Best Bitch is coming over tonight and we have three big tasks to check off the to-do list. And I’ll do it with joy in my heart, knowing that today is just as important as any upcoming day in terms of living from the heart. Happily now, my love.

Can Anybody Be an Entrepreneur?

2012-02-09T03:46:01Z

So what about you? Do you have what it takes?

Kevin Ready is a consultant, author, and speaker. His new book is “Startup: An Insider’s Guide to Launching and Running a Business” (Apress, December 2011).

Meditation. Do you practice?

2012-02-08T01:30:47Z

I did my first 21 day meditation challenge beginning in January of 2011. Toward the middle of the experience I traveled to Florida to spend time with a friend, who I had recently met and didn’t really know that well at the time. It seems that we simply had so much in common, and similar outlooks on the world that we were able to become friends very quickly. During our stay at the beach house, with long walks on the ocean, we were able to find some peace and contentment within ourselves. I know a large part was simply going through the process of being still with ourselves and our thoughts as a part of each of our days.

One of the best times in my shared experience with Carol, was when she shared during a very fun night…”truth be told we meditated before we came out tonight.” I do believe that contributed to an experience that can only be described as bliss in a bubble – and a couple of very puzzled looks. That’s ok, we just smiled and kept right on having an incredible time.

Meditation is a profound practice, which I highly recommend.

Beginning on February 20, the Chopra Center will again offer its free 21-Day Meditation Challenge. It’s really not a challenge, it’s a gift. Join in with me, and share your thoughts? The world is a beautifully abundant place, this practice has changed my life, and continues to.

Are you in?

Bliss guilt

2012-02-07T14:35:35Z

(This blog post first appeared in She Writes, Carol Palmatier’s blog on words for profit, for fun and for the $@*# of it.)

There’s a tendency in many of us to curb our enthusiasm, dampen our spirits, in order not to offend those who are not as happy. Sometimes we go so far as to complain about trivial things in order to maintain the appearance that life sucks for us, too, not just you. Especially in the last few years, it’s just not seemly to be content, doing well, thriving even. How rude.

I call it “bliss guilt” and I’m done with it.

To be sure, there is a big difference between gloating and being happy. If you are talking to someone who is hurting from a job loss, now is not the time to prattle on about the juicy new project you just landed. Still, you are serving absolutely no one if you drop down to the lowest common denominator. You can be compassionate and empathetic without (consciously or not) denigrating your own level of happiness. To the best of your ability, maintain your own positive vibration. It will not only serve you in reminding you to be grateful, it just may help the person you are with. Those positive vibes do rub off. As you radiate your own positive outlook, it will find root in the tiniest bit of receptive ground.

So while misery may love company, and I’m sure it does, it will find no company here. We are here to experience the wonder and delights of this life, not to wallow in despair and sadness. If you feel that spark of joy, even if only for the occasional moment, share it. Be a spark. Your ounce of love can counteract a million pounds of fear, and may be just the lifeline that someone else needs to see a glimpse of light.

Wag your tail.

Releasing the charge

2012-01-30T20:46:06Z

Me: “What’s the opposite of a hoarding disorder?”
Daughter: “I dunno, but you totally have it.”

It’s called Obsessive Compulsive Spartanism, and once Oprah gets her hands on it, I’m sure it will be a treatable condition. I don’t think I’m all the way there. My daughter is right, though: I do have the need, almost constant, to get rid of things.

I wasn’t always this way. I used to collect with the best of them, and hang on to things I didn’t even like, just because I felt guilty throwing them away. No more. No, my material purging began slowly, accelerated by necessity during two cross-country moves. It picked up more speed as I began to draw peace and calm from a new simplicity of decor. Think Zen meets Pottery Barn.

In all of this unloading, there are only two things I truly regret giving away:

1) the musical Santa cookie jar, complete with peeling paint. I missed it so much the following Christmas that I went on e-Bay and found one almost like it;

2) the metal and wicker fruit basket I gave away last month. I realized, too late, that this basket had great energy, and even though it was a bit rusted, chipped and wicker-rotty, I miss it.

The energy signature of objects is a subject I find fascinating. There is a green shirt in my closet — pale lime green, long sleeve cotton button-up, just perfect for fishing or boating. It mocks me. There’s nothing wrong with the shirt itself; looking at it reminds me of a bad choice I made. Nothing fatal, not even life-threatening, just an unpleasant interlude and a learning experience.

I have been keeping it as a battle of wits (with a shirt! Yes, I know how crazy this sounds!) If I can overcome the emotional charge of this thing, then I win! AND I’ll still have my shirt!

It’s like when people touch a live wire and can’t seem to let go. “Just let go!” we scream, but they clutch tight. So in this very moment, I decide to let go. Let the shirt win; it has beaten me. Or have I beaten it? Either way, it goes into the Goodwill bag tonight.

I wonder if I’ll miss it??

14 Things To Do This Year

2012-01-16T15:33:34Z

1 – Use a 3-level goal setting approach:
- What is the minimum result that I could be happy with?
- What kind of result would make me really happy?
- What kind of result would generate fireworks?

2 – Measure success against yourself; your own past performance, not against others’ performance.

3 – Test and measure your marketing activities. What’s working? What’s not working?

4 – Give as much as you can, right now, in all areas of your life.

5 – Publish lots of content, wherever you can find a place to publish it. Be heard above the noise.

6 – Do lots of networking. Lots of it.

7 – Remember how awesome you are.

8 – Be insanely brave. Only good can come from it.

9 – Spend more time with friends and family.

10 – Make a NOT TO DO list of the things you’d like to STOP doing.

11 – De-clutter your life, your living space, your mind.

12 – Know your desired outcome.

13 – Surround yourself with positive people.

14 – Take consistent, focused action.

An invitation from my friend, James Malinchek, you may have seen him on ABC’s Secret Millionaire show?

2012-01-21T05:14:37Z

Hey Friend,

I may be mistaken, but I did not see your name on the list of people
registered for the May Big Money Speaker Boot Camp.
Can you make it in May?

I know you are interested…just want to make sure that you know the
super ‘early-bird’ discount page is up-
http://www.BigMoneySpeakerBootCamp.com

I know the event is months away, however, at my December
event, we had 736 people registered and an event room that
only held 500! I don’t want you to be left out of my May event!

To Your Wealth,

James
http://www.BigMoneySpeakerBootCamp.com

PS: We do have limited seating- go to the super ‘early-bird’
discount page now-
http://www.BigMoneySpeakerBootCamp.com

Some networking opps in the Motor City…

2012-01-21T05:12:40Z

Authors Note: Terry Bean is one of the coolest guys in Detroit – please make a point of getting to know him if you don’t already…

Terry Bean wants you to know about the following
(View Terry Bean’s profile)

In the old days we got paid for what we knew. We had a skill or knowledge set and we used it to make a living. People played to their strength or at the very least to the needs of their community.

In the 70s what you knew became less important. In fact the popular refrain of “its not what you know its who you know” still echoes today. The thought being that knowing the right people can help you get the job, deal or opportunity you seek.

Some people will tell you its not who you know, its who knows you. They’re right, but its actually deeper than that.

In today’s world its all about how you’re known. Does your network immediately think of you when they hear the perfect opportunity for you? What’s your reputation in the community? Is your particular area of expertise fully associated with you? Have you ever changed jobs in such a manner that you had to re-educate your network as to how you wish to be known?

Two years ago we would call this your personal brand. There’s a lot of backlash going on today that say people can’t be brands. I’m not sure if I agree. What I do know for sure is that understanding “How YOU’RE Known” to your network and confirming that it’s how you wish to be known is of vital importance.

How are you known?

How do you wish to be known?

MCC+ members will be going through an exercise on this very topic the meeting after next (the next one on 1/30/12 is all about the importance of Mastermind groups).

Upcoming events

Digital Marketing Monday 1/23/12 is a fast paced session that will answer questions you have about digital marketing. It will cover a lot on social media and other digital tools and will take an inside look at local technology advertising firm Buz.fm. This will be a great session that includes lunch and will have plenty of time for Q&A.

MCC Live Royal Oak is Tuesday, 1/24/12 It’s time for another Great MCC Live Lunch. This session will look at if you’re smart enough for your smart phone…Bring your Droids, Blackberry’s and iPhone’s and let’s share great apps that can help us all achieve more.

MCC Live West Side on 2/14/12 Since it’s Valentine’s Day we will all be dressed in red and talking about the things we LOVE about Detroit!!!

LA2M- Gonna be near Ann Arbor over lunch on a Wednesday? Be sure to check out the calendar for all of the cool meetings LA2M hosts every Wednesday.

This weekend is the big ice festival in Plymouth as well as the last weekend of the only auto show that matters. Will you be attending either? Have you been? Let us know.

Here’s to an enjoyable weekend that recharges you to make next week your best one yet!!!

Be connected-

Terry Bean

be sure to download my 7 page dissertation on THE ASK at http://trybean.com

Could your brand benefit from photo collages being shared in social networks? Then check out Pinterest…

2012-01-20T12:13:10Z

and make it simple for your website visitors to “pin” your content on their pinterest gallery.

Pinterest is a site that gained popularity this year, but it did so without a lot of fanfare. Even signing up is a stealth operation – you have to apply for an invitation, wait several days for your invite, and then head back over to fill in your profile.

What exactly is Pinterest?

Pinning 101

What is Pinterest?

Pinterest is a virtual pinboard. Pinterest allows you to organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. You can browse pinboards created by other people to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.

People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and share their favorite recipes.

Based on who I am following, this is what I see when I log in to my pinterest account:

From there I am able to pin things I like to my pinboards:

Once I’ve added something, people who see my pins are able to repin to their boards, or just enjoy what I’ve shared.

This has been great for people looking for just about everything. Plan your home remodel, find interesting things you like, shop for gifts – all through the sharing of photographs. Brilliant!

So, make it simple for your visitors who don’t yet pin regularly – and especially for those who do (they probably have the browser PIN IT button installed already). You can add the Pinterest Plugin to your wordpress pages – and let’s start pinning!

Here are more articles on Pinterest:
6 Ways Brands can Rock Pinterest

How an Alaskan Mom Brings Millions to her Carpentry Blog

The only thing I’d like to see next is the embedding app for publishing completed boards to my blog…