NametagTV: The Never Ending Nametag

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
Do you always come prepared?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS…
Do not try this at home!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag


Do you want to be That Guy?

Find out how TOMORROW with the release of Scott’s forthcoming third book!

Check out www.hellomynameisscott.com for all the juicy details!

The World is a Mirror, Part 7

A is for ATTITUDE
B is for BREAK PATTERNS
C is for CONSISTENCY
D is for DISCIPLINE
E is for EVOLUTION
F is for FRIENDLINESS
G is for GOOD WITH NAMES

In his basic writings, Freud explains that a person’s name is the single context of memory most apt to be forgotten. Guess Dale Carnegie forgot to mention that, huh?!

But we’ve all done it. We all do it. And we’ll continue to do it, unless we take the right steps to avoid this barrier to approachability.

Now, even if you have blanked out on a person’s name, and even if it happened at the worst possible moment, trust me, you don’t know how bad it can get. See, when I forget someone’s name, people act like it’s the ultimate sin. The gravest social no-no in the world! Hey Scott, do you remember my name? Come on Mr. Nametag, this should be easy for you right? Right? Come on!

People love to test me. And sometimes, it’s tough. After all, I speak to tens of thousands of people a year! I can’t remember all of them! So, in the event that I do forget a name – which happens every once in a while – not only does it offend them (more so than if I were someone else) but it makes me look like a hypocrite!

Therein lies the problem: wearing a nametag is great to help other people remember my name; but it does me no good when I blank out on theirs. So, people just expect me to always remember their names, simply from a reciprocal standpoint; which, if you think about it, isn’t really fair.

But, such is life. So, several years ago when I got tired of disappointing people when I forgot their names (even though I AM human), I made it a point to improve my name-remembering skills.

The first thing I did was change my attitude. I’d say to myself, “I am going to remember the name of everyone I meet today!” and “I am amazing at remembering names!”

Next, I read several books on the topic, the best of which was Remember Every Name Every Time.

Then I began learning why people forget names and writing articles on the subject. This was a great way to organize my thoughts and stay refreshed on effective techniques for remembering names.

But of course, reading and writing only got me so far. I had to start putting these ideas to work. For example, this week I spoke to an international student leadership group in Switzerland. 45 kids, 45 names, all of which were different. My goal was to memorize every one of their names by the second day. Here’s how I did it:

Quizzing: any time I saw any of the students from a distance, I recited their name in my head five times before approaching them.

Vocalizing: any time I talked with one of the students, I verbally used their name at least one time during the conversation.

Refreshers: any time I had a break, I’d find my way over to the students’ mailboxes. These were small envelopes on which their names were printed. I would peruse all 45 of the mailboxes while trying to picture the student in my mind.

Assistance: if I wasn’t sure of someone’s name, I’d ask one of the other staff members in private.

Reminders: if we sat in a circle, I’d take time at the beginning and end of the program to go around and say the person’s name to myself while looking at their face.

If that sounds like a lot of work, you’re right – it is! But it’s worth it. And in six years, if there’s one compliment I’ve received quite a lot, it’s in reference to my name remembering abilities. And while I don’t claim to remember every name every time, I will say that I’m pretty damn good.

Therefore, I give thanks to my nametag for FORCING me to develop this valuable skill. And I guess in end, if everyone knows my name, I may as well do whatever I can to remember theirs.

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
Do you remember the last time you forgot someone’s name?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS…
Study some name remembering techniques from this article. Try them out and see which ones work!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag


Do you want to be That Guy?

Find out how in 7 days with the release of Scott’s forthcoming third book!

Check out www.hellomynameisscott.com for all the juicy details!

The Great Place to Work Model

Seeing that I’m still in the middle of Swiss Nowhere, my wifi keeps going in and out. Better make this quick…

A fascinating study from Ohio State proved that customers whose clothes were rated as more fashionable and attractive, and who showed better grooming and make-up skills, received better service than those whose appearance was not rated as highly.

Also, I read a great piece in the Canadian Business Online about “The Great Place to Work Model. It was developed more than two decades ago in the U.S. and now used to survey some 750 companies in that country each year, has since been exported to 28 nations in Europe, Latin America and Asia. In 2005, 3,000 organizations around the globe completed the institute’s 57-question culture survey.

The employee surveys have revealed a remarkable consistency in what makes a great workplace, despite a wide mix of industries represented and the size of companies eligible to participate. For example, employees at a company in the Top 10 in any given country agreed 85% of the time, on average, with the statement: “Management is approachable, easy to talk with.”

Good stuff. Enjoy it. I’m off to the chocolate factory!

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
On a scale from 1-10, how approachable is your management?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS…
Ask five people you work with how approachable your management is. Submit your results here!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag


Do you want to be That Guy?

Find out how in 8 days with the release of Scott’s forthcoming third book!

Check out www.hellomynameisscott.com for all the juicy details!

How to score a date with Miss Universe

Whew! I’m exhausted…

Just finished a full day of workshops with two different student leadership groups out here in Switzerland. The morning session was held in a 50+ year old auditorium with no electricity and some serious acoustical echoing. So I ditched the ol’ PowerPoint, used the sun as my light, and just spoke really, really loudly, which actually ended up sounding way better than a microphone.

The highlight of the program HAD to be when Andrew, one of the staff members, stood up on his chair and sang an a capella version of A Whole New World from Aladdin. He claimed he’d never sung anything like that in front of such a small group before, and told us afterwards that he was “terrified.”

However, Andrew received a standing ovation and clearly proved that leaders have to take risks if they want to make a name for themselves. Way to go man!

In the afternoon session, the electricity was back on. And as much as I would have enjoyed NOT using PowerPoint again, it sure was nice to see the look on 45 high school students’ faces when I show them the picture of me @ Iron Age getting my nametag tattoo. Of course, they asked to see the tattoo in person. So I showed it to them after the speech, just to keep ’em in suspense.

We also experienced the mad freestylin’ skills of Tarik, who dropped a minute’s worth of lyrics on the spot. Well done!

But the best part about this program had to be an exercise called Different vs. Unique, in which each person says, “I’m probably the only person in this room who…”

We learned some amazing stuff, i.e., some students had traveled to Antarctica, swam with sharks, hated chocolate, even NEVER seen snow before! However, the most memorable item came from Jaime, who once went on a date with Miss Universe! Jaime, you stud you!

Well, my “work” is officially done. I now have five days in Switzerland to just chill. So, I’m off to the Alps.

See ya!

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
What’s the difference between a “unique person” and a “different person”?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS…
Brainstorm all the ways you could finish this sentence: “I’m probably the only person you’ll ever meet who…”

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag


Do you want to be That Guy?

Find out how in 13 days with the release of Scott’s forthcoming third book!

Check out www.hellomynameisscott.com for all the juicy details!

I somehow managed to get wifi in the middle of the Alps

This week I’m in Leysin, Switzerland (outside of Geneva) speaking at YPO’s Junior Leadership University.

How I got this stinkin’ wifi to work, I have no idea.

This is my second year here. It’s absolutely breathtaking. Last night we watched the storm come in through the mountains, which made for one heck of a skyline!

Today I have two sessions with the students, both of which are called “Make a Name for Yourself.” Should be awesome.

In other exciting news, my new website is finally live!

After months and months of hard work, with the help of Chad and CIO Services, this baby is up and running! Check it out here!

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
When was the last time you updated your website?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS…
Take a few minutes and browse 10 of your competitors’ websites. See if you’re up to par. If not, call Wendy at CIO Services.

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag


Do you want to be That Guy?

Find out how in 14 days with the release of Scott’s forthcoming third book!

Check out www.hellomynameisscott.com for all the juicy details!

Meet Me! A surefire way to enable others to approach you

According to this article from the Rockford Register Star, MeetMe, a business dedicated to bringing singles together, uses the ever popular silicone bracelet worn by people who want to show they’re available and approachable.

MeetMe.bz (not a typo!) explains that the bracelet is a symbol that announces a person’s availability and encourages people to approach him or her. Some wear them so they can meet people when they’re out with friends. Others wear them to increase their chances of meeting someone while going about their busy daily routines. The MeetMe bracelet leaves no question that a person is looking to meet someone and facilitates the process of bringing people together.

Presently, there are 602 bracelets in circulation.

MY THOUGHTS:

  • I hope people don’t expect to simply slap this bracelet on and wait for others to approach them! After all, approachability is a two way street: approach-EE and approach-ER.
  • I’d like to see the website post success stories of connections made from the bracelets. Kind of like Match.com features the couples that got married after meeting on their site.
  • Isn’t our culture too saturated with these Lance Armstrong bracelets (there’s one for EVERYTHING!) that it won’t be as effective as it would have been, say, three years ago?

    LET ME ASK YA THIS…
    Would you wear one of these?

    LET ME SUGGEST THIS…
    What other visual tools could you use to inform people around you that you’re available?

    * * * *
    Scott Ginsberg
    Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag


    Do you want to be That Guy?

    Find out how in 14 days with the release of Scott’s forthcoming third book!

    Check out www.hellomynameisscott.com for all the juicy details!

  • Best workplaces in 29 nations share key similarities

    The April 10-23, 2006 issue of Canadian Business Magazine reported a FASCINATING study about the characteristics of effective workplaces.

    The Great Place to Work model, developed more than two decades ago in the U.S. and now used to survey some 750 companies in that country each year, has since been exported to 28 nations in Europe, Latin America and Asia. In 2005, 3,000 organizations around the globe completed the institute’s 57-question culture survey.

    The employee surveys have revealed a remarkable consistency in what makes a great workplace, despite a wide mix of industries represented and the size of companies eligible to participate.

    For example, employees at a company in the Top 10 in any given country agreed 85% of the time, on average, with the statement:

    “Management is approachable, easy to talk with.”

    * * * *

    This makes TOTAL sense, considering:

    a) I’ve only had one manager in my life who was easy to talk with
    b) That was the only workplace I didn’t hate walking into everyday

    LET ME ASK YA THIS…
    What makes a manager easy to talk with?

    LET ME SUGGEST THIS…
    Ask 10 of your friends if their manager is approachable; easy to talk with. Report back to me with your statistics.

    * * * *
    Scott Ginsberg
    Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag


    Do you want to be That Guy?

    Find out how in 15 days with the release of Scott’s forthcoming third book!

    Check out www.hellomynameisscott.com for all the juicy details!

    Adventures in Nametagging: STAPLES Style

    That was easy. I spent last Friday in Boston speaking with my new friends @ STAPLES! Man, I was SO excited for this speech, as one of my favorite stories (that I’ve been telling for years to 1000’s of people) involves an old lady asking me to help her find the envelopes in a STAPLES aisle. I, of course, helped her find what she needed; although I did not receive commission.

    We focused primarily on spreading word of mouth about That Guy inside (and outside) of an organization.

    I suggested keeping a “Cool Journal,” in which you keep track of all things, people and events that are cool. If you’d like to try this idea, here’s how it works: on the left side of the page, write the name of the thing/person which is cool. On the right side, write WHY it’s cool, and what your response was, i.e., emailed all your friends, bought the product, etc. This exercise will help you gain an understanding of the properties of cool and enable you to increase you or your idea’s present coolness.

    Now, since I’m a huge fan of the STAPLES Easy Button, and simply could not miss the opportunity to have a little fun with my favorite office supply chain, I closed my presentation with the following faux-advertisement. (Special thanks to Design Shark Studios for putting this comp together.)

    Think STAPLES needs a new spokesperson?

    LET ME ASK YA THIS…
    What’s your favorite way to spread WOM about That Guy?

    LET ME SUGGEST THIS…
    Start your cool journal today! Email me your first five entries.

    * * * *
    Scott Ginsberg
    Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag


    Do you want to be That Guy?

    Find out how in 16 days with the release of Scott’s forthcoming third book!

    Check out www.hellomynameisscott.com for all the juicy details!

    The World is a Mirror, Part 6

    A is for ATTITUDE
    B is for BREAK PATTERNS
    C is for CONSISTENCY
    D is for DISCIPLINE
    E is for EVOLUTION
    F is for FRIENDLINESS

    Friendly always wins.

    Cheesy? Maybe. But it’s true. It’s not possible to go wrong with friendliness.

    It’s also not possible to max out on friendliness. You can always increase it. And I only say that because after all these years of wearing a nametag to make other people friendlier, a major improvement I’ve noticed in my life is: I’ve actually become friendlier myself.

    I’m tellin ya, this stuff works. The moment you boost your friendliness is the moment you experience the follow payoffs:

    People are rarely mean to you.
    I’ve seen the meanest people in the world do complete 180’s because of friendliness. This reminds me of Tim Sanders’ book The Likability Factor. His research proves that you should never allow yourself to communicate unfriendliness as a first step because, as a social reflex, people will generally reciprocate your friendliness (or lack thereof).

    Your cool factor goes up.
    A Canadian University did a study on the link between friendliness and “coolness.” They based their findings on a survey of 800 respondents — mostly twentysomething university students — who were asked to rate on a scale of one to seven — one being uncool, and seven being very cool — the coolness of 90 adjectives. They then asked the same respondents to rate the same 90 adjectives according to their social desirability. And what they found was a strong correlation between the two. In other words, the qualities that make one socially desirable — being friendly, fair, thoughtful and kind — were also what makes one cool — at least in the minds of about 60 per cent of participants.

    Stress is reduced.
    Just like you, I’ve missed flights, lost luggage, received bad service, been cut off in traffic or been knocked into in the middle of a crowded bar. Now, because I’m human, my natural reaction is to get upset. But I don’t. I always catch a glimpse of that little nametag in the corner of my eye before I yell, “Watch where you’re going jerk,” and I’m reminded to act friendly. In 2,080 days, I’ve rarely become SO pissed off to the point of yelling or complaining. Instead, I’ve learned to react patiently and, most importantly, friendly. It’s never steered me wrong. And I’m sure it’s reduced my overall stress level.

    The point is, even the nicest person in the world can still become friendlier. The benefits are scientifically based and 100% true.

    This stuff works. Friendly always wins.

    LET ME ASK YA THIS…
    In what area of your life could you be friendlier?

    LET ME SUGGEST THIS…
    Think of the friendliest person you know: are people mean to them? Are they cool? Are they stressed?

    * * * *
    Scott Ginsberg
    Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag


    Do you want to be That Guy?

    Find out how in 20 days with the release of Scott’s forthcoming third book!

    Check out www.hellomynameisscott.com for all the juicy details!

    HELLO, my name is BE:99

    1. BE afraid only of standing still.
    2. BE regularly silly.
    3. BE three moves ahead of everyone.
    4. BE unexpected.
    5. BE your own definition of success.
    6. BE the first one.
    7. BE the only one.
    8. BE unforgettable.
    9. BE remarkable.
    10. BE ashes, not dust.
    11. BE a sleeper.
    12. BE so damn sure of yourself.
    13. BE ready for anything.
    14. BE the same wherever you go.
    15. BE visually accountable.
    16. BE the local ball of fire.
    17. BE easy to get a hold of.
    18. BE consistently consistent.
    19. BE the new guy’s first friend.
    20. BE completely original.
    21. BE a great conversationalist.
    22. BE an even greater listener.
    23. BE willing to say, “Wait, I don’t know what that means.”
    24. BE That Guy.
    25. BE THE guy.
    26. BE your own adjective.
    27. BE willing to ask ridiculous questions.
    28. BE open to making an idiot out of yourself.
    29. BE the brand.
    30. BE ubiquitous.
    31. BE in front of your fans regularly.
    32. BE transparent.
    33. BE thick skinned.
    34. BE heard from miles away.
    35. BE unique, not different.
    36. BE curious, not judgmental.
    37. BE approachable, don’t work the room.
    38. BE a sleeper.
    39. BE a people collector.
    40. BE a little crazy.
    41. BE not ashamed by your art.
    42. BE likable.
    43. BE someone your friends can call at 2 AM.
    44. BE the first one to show up.
    45. BE the last one to leave.
    46. BE really, really funny.
    47. BE the best at what you do.
    48. BE impossible to imitate.
    49. BE nicer to waiters.
    50. BE an engaging storyteller.
    51. BE available for Q & A.
    52. BE willing to find out what you suck at.
    53. BE up for anything.
    54. BE the only person smiling in traffic.
    55. BE Googleable.
    56. BE grounded.
    57. BE ballsy.
    58. BE cool.
    59. BE up on the news.
    60. BE a person OF character, not just a character.
    61. BE a class act.
    62. BE blatantly honest.
    63. BE less predictable.
    64. BE the greatest.
    65. BE the shit.
    66. BE the man.
    67. BE partial to the faces of the wicked.
    68. BE better than you used to be.
    69. BE tired of complainers.
    70. BE the only person singing.
    71. BE nicer to the ducks.
    72. BE like Bezos.
    73. BE a master of something.
    74. BE disgusted by smokers.
    75. BE sorry less.
    76. BE hard to sell.
    77. BE beautiful daily.
    78. BE better in concert.
    79. BE back and on the attack.
    80. BE a stickler for grammar.
    81. BE alone daily.
    82. BE the center of attention.
    83. BE more patient at the airport.
    84. BE slightly famous.
    85. BE a sweetheart.
    86. BE a better customer.
    87. BE part of something cool.
    88. BE a heartbreaker once.
    89. BE crushed by a heartbreaker twice.
    90. BE somebody’s mentor.
    91. BE nobody’s bitch.
    92. BE less bored.
    93. BE quotable.
    94. BE like that – FINE.
    95. BE better at small talk.
    96. BE radiantly healthy.
    97. BE partial to redheads.
    98. BE ten again.
    99. BE brave or go home.

    LET ME ASK YA THIS…
    Which of these BE99’s are most relevant to you?

    LET ME SUGGEST THIS…
    Make your own BE:99, BE:25 or BE:50. Have fun. Get creative. BE whatever you want. Post it here!

    * * * *
    Scott Ginsberg
    Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag


    Do you want to be That Guy?

    Find out how in 20 days with the release of Scott’s forthcoming third book!

    Check out www.hellomynameisscott.com for all the juicy details!

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