Don’t say you don’t know

What three words do your customers NEVER want to hear?

“I don’t know.”

If you’re a front line employee, you are the face of your company.

If you’re a call center operator, you are the voice of your company.

As such, you must project an aura of competence, confidence and resourcefulness. That’s what approachable service is all about!

So, even if you don’t really know the answer to a customer question, never let ‘em see (or hear) you sweat.

Instead, try saying the following Phrases That Payses:

“Great question! I’m not exactly sure, so let me ask someone who DOES know.”

This response works for several reasons:

IT REFRAMES. The customer is upset. Frustrated. Looking for answers. So, by immediately countering with a positive, even complimentary response, you reframe the context of the dialogue. He or she starts to feel reassured right away! All because you’ve laid a foundation of positivity and approachability.

IT LOOSENS THE BLOW. By stating that you’re “not exactly” sure, you come off as more competent and confident. Much better than, “I have no idea!” After all, your credibility is on the line. The front line!

IT VOCALIZES COMMITMENT. It’s OK to not know everything. But it’s also OK to tell a customer that his question is important enough that you will go out of your way to find the answer. See, without this display of commitment, you’re toast. Because customers only give you (and your company) credit for that which they SEE and HEAR you do consistently. And consistency is far better than rare moments of greatness.

Ultimately, your job as a front line employee; call center operator or PDX rep is not only to provide approachable service, but to CHANGE PEOPLE’S MINDS.

About their problem.
About your company.
About your level of service.
About YOU as an individual!

So, next time you get stumped by a tricky customer question, just remember: customers want answers. Solutions. First call resolutions! And even if you’re not exactly sure what those are, that doesn’t mean you can’t respond in a confident, competent and approachable manner.

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
What do you say when you don’t know?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS…
Post your Phrases That Payses here!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag
www.hellomynameisscott.com

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Everyone is a…

Everyone is a writer. Writing is the basis of all wealth, as my mentor says. You need to be writing (something) every single day. You can’t keep all that stuff bottled up inside. It’s not good for you. Write, write, write.

Everyone is in marketing. Your words, actions, emails and conversations are either supporting or refuting your brand. Everyone in your company is responsible for marketing your company.

Everyone is in sales. Because people buy people first. Because people aren’t loyal to companies, they’re loyal to people. Because it doesn’t matter what product or service you sell, customers buy YOU before anything.

Everyone is the CEO (of You, Inc.). Tom Peters was the first to coin this phrase. It’s been around for a good 10 years now. There are books written about it, articles explaining it, even experts who can show you how to do it. It’s no longer a fad. It’s just the way it is.

Everyone has a voice. God bless the Internet! With the advent of blogs, social networking and other virtual soapboxes, there’s no excuse for not having a forum to voice your opinion. If you want to say something, say it. Odds are, with the potential audience of billions of people, somebody’s gonna hear it.

Everyone has customers. Sure, you can call ‘em whatever you want. Clients. Members. Congregants. Children. Students. Employees. Audience members. Readers. Subscribers. Either way, everyone has customers. And customers are two things: 1) People that BUY (your products, your ideas, you as a person) and 2) People that YOU SERVE.

Everyone is a leader. I don’t know much about being a leader. But I get the feeling that just about anybody within a company or organization can be one. I once heard leadership defined by author Meg Wheatley as, “Anyone who is willing to help.” That’s you!

Everyone is a manager. Even if you’re not the manager of a team, group, staff, etc., you’re still the manager of your time, life, family, priorities, choices, health, blah blah blah. (Thanks Covey.)

Everyone is an artist. OK, so you don’t paint. Or sing. Or create any other type of artsy fartsy stuff. Big deal! You’re still creating some kind of art every day. Hell, your life is one big work of art! And similar to the word “love,” art is pretty much impossible to define. So, whatever art means to you, just remember that everyone is an artist, and let the definition of art be decided by those who make it.

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
Everyone’s something, aren’t they?

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
Finish the following sentence: “Everyone is a…” and post your explanations here!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag
www.hellomynameisscott.com

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Keep it Alive, Part 3

(Read part one and part deux of this series here!)

1. Every time you travel out of town, ask yourself, “Who do I know that lives in that city?” Call ahead of time and make plans to get together. Heck, you’re there anyway.

2. Every few months, sit down with your cell phone and call every single person in your phone book. When they ask why you’re calling, tell them because you’re sitting down with your cell phone calling every single person in your phone book. No motive. No big deal. Just saying hey.

3. Take about 15 minutes one day and go back through your inbox. Quickly scan through your last 500 emails. Odds are, you’ll be reminded of people you completely forgot about and/or haven’t talked to in a while. Drop ‘em a line and see what’s up.

4. Do you have a big stack of business cards on your desk collecting dust? If so, take a few minutes to flip through them. Jar your memory as to who you’ve met over the last few months. You never know whom you might find!

5. Go to Borders and read through every magazine on the rack. Even Oprah and Rachel Ray (rolls eyes). See if you can find an article, sidebar or picture relevant to your job, industry or area of expertise. Pick 50 customers/prospects to hand-send that picture to, along with a note saying, “This made me think of you!”

6. Open your appointment book. Are you having lunch or coffee with at least one person every week? If not, fill that baby up! Make a list called “20 People I Haven’t Talked to In, Like, Forever.” Pen (don’t pencil) them in.

7. Start an ezine. Even if you don’t think that you’re a good writer. Even if you don’t think anyone cares. Begin by sending it out to everyone in your network. Offer quick tips and ideas to help them, plus a brief summary of what’s new with your business. Invite people to write back and share the same.

8. If you’re a blogger (and if you’re not, you need to be), keep a blogroll. Every week or so, revisit all the entries written by the people in your Internetwork. Post comments, share link love and help support each other!

9. Whatever social networking program you use (MySpace, Facebook, Squidoo, YouTube, whatever) take some time every so often to peruse all the personal pages of each of your “friends” or “contacts.” See what people are up to. Drop them a message to say hey.

10. Go back through your old planners (or past PDA entries). Look at all the people you had lunch, coffee or connected with last year. BE HONEST: how many of them do you still keep in touch with? If your numbers aren’t as high as you’d like, drop a line to those people and say, “I was browsing my old calendar the other day, and I realize we haven’t hung out since May of 2005! It’s time for us to get together again…”

11. Schedule a specific time, i.e., every Thursday afternoon at 3:00, as “Keep it Alive Time.” Set 30 minutes aside each week to do any of the activities listed above.

12. Start a “Keep it Alive Journal.” Make notes about whom you connected with, what you learned, how you helped each other and other related ideas. Review and update it every week.

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
How do you Keep it Alive?

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
Post your best Keep it Alive tip right here!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag
www.hellomynameisscott.com

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When you care the least, you do the best

Let’s say you’re on a sales call.

And in the back of your mind, you don’t care.

Which is not to say you’re apathetic. It’s just that you’re relaxed.

With yourself. With your product. With your prospect. So, you “don’t care” insofar as you’re not negatively affected by the thought of failure.

If I don’t make the sale, no biggie, you think. You do the best you can, be yourself, and if you close the deal, great. If not, it’s cool. Onto the next prospect!

So, what often happens?

That’s right. You make the sale.

Because when you care the least, you do the best.

Now let’s say you walk into a bar.

And in the back of your mind, you don’t care.

Which is not to say you’re being cold. You’re just looking to have a good time, laugh, hang out with your friends; maybe throw back a few pints of Guinness. You’re not actively looking for a date. But if someone cute DOES approach you, that would be great.

If I don’t get her number, no biggie, you think. You act friendly, be yourself, and if you secure the digits, great. If not, it’s cool. Plenty other fish in the sea!

So, what often happens?

That’s right. You meet someone.

Because when you care the least, you do the best.

Lastly, let’s say you attend an industry-wide conference.

And in the back of your mind, you don’t care.

Which is not to say you’re slacking off. After all, your goals are to learn, network with fellow professionals, even have a little fun at the after hours parties. NOT to pound the pavement while dishing out 100’s of business cards trying gain new customers. But you approach that conference with a prepared, positive, (yet peaceful) attitude.

If I find myself a new customer, awesome! you say. If not, that’s ok too. There’s plenty other benefits of attending the event.

So, what often happens?

That’s right. You attract “lucky” people and situations.

Because when you care the least, you do the best.

“Alright, hold on for a sec,” you think. “Scott, are you telling me NOT to care?!”

Of course not! Caring is KING. In fact, the world could use a little more caring if you ask me.

BUT THAT’S THE THING: it’s not about NOT caring.

It’s about relaxing.

Relaxing your mind.
Relaxing your body.
Relaxing your expectations.

Because when you’re relaxed, you become more approachable. To the world. To other people. To ideas and powerful thoughts.

(Thomas Edison said: “When you become quiet, it just dawns on you.”)

AND REMEMBER THIS: It’s not about selling.

It’s about enabling people to buy.

Giving value.
Being yourself.
Positioning (er, broadcasting) your uniqueness.

Because when you enable people to buy, you become more approachable. To customers. To prospects. Even to the competition.

OH, AND DON’T FORGET: it’s not about having a target or a mark.

It’s about becoming less goal-oriented.

Just having fun.
Enjoying yourself.
Focusing on the umbrella.

Because when people discover that you’re not trying to sell them, but rather develop mutually valuable relationships WITH them, you become more approachable.

So whether you’re on a sales call, looking for a date or attending a conference, follow these steps:

1. Slow down.
2. Relax.
3. Open your body and mind to the world around you.
4. Let intuition take over.
5. Be nobody but yourself.
6. Give value.
7. Have fun.
8. Watch success come your way.

Because when you care the least, you do the best.

That’s what I think.

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
Have you ever achieved something great because you “didn’t care”?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS…
Share your story here!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag
www.hellomynameisscott.com

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33 random thoughts I jotted down at the Phoenix airport

1. There are two kinds of publicity: 1) Getting featured on TV, print and radio as a GUEST, 2) Getting featured on TV, print and radio as an EXPERT. Do both. Especially the latter.

2. State your fee confidently and shut up. Seriously. I actually put my hand over my mouth until the prospect responds. Sometimes 10 seconds later. You have to be sure of yourself and your fee. Don’t defend it. Don’t negotiate it. Just say, “That will be $50,000.” Then be quiet. You deserve it.

3. Two words: Mastermind Group. Get in one now. Keep it small, meet monthly. Top five best things I’ve ever done for my career.

4. Oh yeah, speaking of fees. There are advantages and disadvantages of posting your fee on your website. I say go for it. It shows transparency and honesty. Plus, it qualifies your leads, cuts out the no-money prospects and doesn’t waste yours or their time.

5. DON’T EVER APOLOGIZE FOR WHO YOU ARE.

6. People who get noticed get ahead. People who get remembered get business.

7. God help your soul if you ever, ever, ever use some version of the horribly overused “Got milk?” tagline as part of your marketing. Absolutely terrible. You’d be amazed how many speeches, programs and taglines are STILL called “Got Leadership?” “Got Marketing?” “Got Publicity?” and the like. Unbelievable. It’s the absolute antithesis to creativity and uniqueness. This isn’t 1995. If you’re going to rip off “Got milk?” in your marketing, you may as well use “Show me the money!” while you’re at it.

8. TIGER WOODS TAKES GOLF LESSONS. Just think about that for a minute.

9. If you aren’t making dust, you’re eating dust. (Thanks, Russell White.)

10. If someone ever comes up to you and says, “Man! I see your name everywhere!” congrats.

11. If you’re the only one who does what you do, there IS no competition.

12. “You participate in your online image but you don’t control it,” said the former VP of Monster.com. He also said, “The internet is forever.” Careful what you post.

13. Just because you know how to use a hammer doesn’t mean you can build a house. LESSON LEARNED: hire a professional designer to do your marketing materials.

14. 90% of new restaurants fail within their first year because some guy out there once said, “You know, I like to cook. And people enjoy my food. Maybe I should start a restaurant!” LESSON LEARNED: just because you know the trade, doesn’t mean you can run the business.

15. If they don’t like you as a person, they won’t hire you.

16. Have you Googled yourself this week?

17. LET GO OF trying to please everybody who comes to your website. If they’re not perfect customers, who cares if they don’t love your graphics? Don’t lust for pleasing everyone who logs on. Take it from someone who struggled with this for years: let it go and focus your efforts on pleasing the people who PAY.

18. When it comes to media, the key word is: leverage. Slap a sticker on the cover of your product/website that says, “Seen on CNN.” That’s leverage. Record the TV interview and make it available to watch as a clip on the media page of your website, YouTube and your blog. That’s leverage.

19. “Dress to impress” is bullshit. I say, dress to make other people feel comfortable when engaging with you.

20. It’s a heck of a lot easier to make a book a bestseller than it used to be. (Especially on Amazon.) In fact, I think it’s almost a joke when you see the words “bestseller,” because a lot of authors know how to manipulate the system. In fact, I just bought a “bestselling” book the other day and it was so terrible I couldn’t even finish it. LESSON LEARNED: best selling doesn’t necessarily mean best reading.

21. Share link love to others FIRST.

22. On your blog, post stuff that takes a side. Don’t be scared. Controversial = comments. Pick a lane. If you aren’t being criticized, you’re doing something wrong.

23. Every single day, do five things that promote you, your company and your product. That’s 25 a week. 1,250 a year. Man. That adds up.

24. Does a lower fee make you more affordable, or less attractive?

25. Your clients can get knowledge anywhere. They look to you for WISDOM.

26. People want to hear FROM success, not ABOUT it.

27. Refuse to go away. Persistence is attractive. Still, don’t be annoying. Or desperate. It’s tough to sell with your tongue hanging out.

28. You need to build a following. Even if you’re not running for office, recording an album or writing a best seller. Every ONE and every COMPANY needs to build a following.

29. There is nothing more convincing than a working example.

30. Familiarity doesn’t breed contempt; it breeds business.

31. People aren’t loyal to companies, they’re loyal to people.

32. Deliver small promises first.

33. If people buy people first; and if people do business with their friends; and if the only reason people will buy from you is if they’ve heard you, heard OF you, or if someone they trust has heard of you; doesn’t it just make sense to, like, make friends with everybody?

33. Familiarity doesn’t breed contempt; it breeds business.

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
Ever wanted to post a bunch of random stuff for no reason?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS…
This week, write a “random thoughts” post on your blog. Copy your link here!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag
www.hellomynameisscott.com

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How to become the Luckiest Person You Know, Part 2

Since my recent post about The Secret reached so many people…

And since I (think) I’ve figured out how to become the luckiest person you know, I now firmly believe:

IT AIN’T ABOUT LUCK!

Here’s a fun, easy exercise you can do to prove that to yourself:

1. Think about the “luckiest” things that ever happened to you.
2. Write what great stuff happened as a result.
3. Think about what you will now do differently as a result.

A few examples from Nametagland:

BOY AM I GLAD THAT I…
Attended every cocktail hour, dinner, event, break out session and after-hours hot tub celebration instead of sleeping or relaxing in my hotel room during last year’s WOMMA conference.

BECAUSE AS A RESULT…
I made connections with hundreds of people, dozens of which became friends and/or colleagues; 13 of which became clients, all of which contributed to over $100,000 of revenue during the next year.

SO FROM NOW ON…
1. Get out of your hotel room.
2. Save sleep for the plane ride home.
3. Maximize your conference time: go to everything!

BOY AM I GLAD THAT I…
Starting writing content-rich, easy to read articles and posting a new one on my website every week.

BECAUSE AS A RESULT…
The Wall Street Journal, Inc. Magazine, FastCompany and COSMOPOLITAN contacted me for expert opinions on approachability, the printed quotes of which I leveraged to command a higher fee level and a dramatic increase in book sales.

SO FROM NOW ON…
1. Get up one hour earlier and write for 60 minutes every single day.
2. Write at least two articles every month.
3. Publish those articles online and in your ezine and share your expertise with the world.

BOY AM I GLAD THAT I…
Graduated from college, had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and moved across the country to a strange city where I’d never been, didn’t know anybody and didn’t have a job.

BECAUSE AS A RESULT…
I made a group of lifelong friends, suffered just enough to realize what I DIDN’T want, discovered my true calling, started my career and came to realize the validation for my existence.

SO FROM NOW ON…
1. Create intentional discomfort by displacing yourself.
2. Don’t be afraid to figure out what you DON’T want first.
3. Listen, listen, listen to the clues life gives you.

BOY AM I GLAD THAT I…
Spent 14 straight hours addressing 112 hand-written notes to every Hyatt GM in the country to introduce myself (and my training programs).

BECAUSE AS A RESULT…
I began working with several properties around the country over the next three years, which led to a new niche market, a new book idea and over $10,000 of new business.

SO FROM NOW ON…
1. Make it handwritten.
2. Be willing to pay the price.
3. Go straight to the top and show ‘em what you got.

BOY AM I GLAD THAT I…
Spent three full days (about 20 hours) on the phone calling every single person from my audience who gave me their business card and thanked them for being there.

BECAUSE AS A RESULT…
More than a dozen of them decided at some point within the following year, to hire me.

SO FROM NOW ON…
1. Exponentially increase your activity level.
2. Get your butt on the phone!
3. Make it personal.

BOY AM I GLAD THAT I…
Started blogging every single day.

BECAUSE AS A RESULT…
I accumulated over 500 posts, the contents of which skyrocketed my web presence, created a easily accessible online knowledge management system, boosted my email list, introduced me to hundreds of cool new people, expanded my platform, tripled my web traffic and helped create (and eventually get published) my next five books.

SO FROM NOW ON…
1. Stop thinking blogs are only for geeks.
2. Start blogging tomorrow.
3. Post something on your blog every single day for the next 6 months.

BOY AM I GLAD THAT I…
Sat down on the bus on December 2nd, 2002, and said hello to a complete stranger.

BECAUSE AS A RESULT…
He passed along my business card to his girlfriend, who was the editor of a local paper. She called to do an interview with me and the resulting article got picked up by every major news wire in the country, which resulting in the birth of my entire career, including everything you’ve just read in this article.

SO FROM NOW ON…
1. Realize that it’s OK to talk to strangers.
2. Say hi to everybody.
3. And just remember: it ain’t about luck.

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
What’s the luckiest thing that ever happened to you?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS…
What happened as a result? What will you now do differently as a result?

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag
www.hellomynameisscott.com

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The World is a Mirror, Part 22

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
H is for HAPPINESS
I is for IDEAS
J is for JOY
K is for KNOWLEDGE
L is for LAUGHTER
M is for MUNDANE
N is for NAMETAGS
O is for OFF BUTTON
P is for PAINT YOURSELF INTO A (GOOD) CORNER
Q is for QUICK
R is for RUDE PEOPLE
S is for SERVICE
T is for TIME
U is for UNIQUE
V is for VALUE

Went out to a fancy schmancy dinner the other night. Learned a great sales lesson from John, our excellent waiter.

“Our special this evening is pistachio encrusted red snapper, seared to perfection with a caramelized onion glaze, rice pilaf and two garlic butter crab claws.”

Good god. How could I NOT order that?

“Sold!” I said.

“Very good, Scott.”

As expected, the dish was amazing. Probably one of the best meals I’ve had all year.

Then I got the bill.

“Holy crap!” I exclaimed to my girlfriend. “You know how much that snapper was?”

“Thirty-five dollars.”

“Wow,” she said. “Did the waiter ever mention the price?”

“Hmm. I…I don’t think so. I guess the dish sounded so good when he told me about it that I didn’t even consider the price.”

“Yeah, but here’s the thing: would you have ordered the special if the waiter said how much it was?” she asked.

Interesting.

Honestly, I don’t think I would have. If John would have said, “Well our special tonight is thirty-five dollars. It’s pistachio encrusted…”

Um, no. I’ll just have the chicken sandwich.

By the time we returned home from dinner, I figured out the lesson: always sell value before price.

When you sell value first, price isn’t an issue.
When you sell value first, customers will gladly fork it over.
When you sell value first, you appeal to customers’ emotions, not their wallets.

Once the customer sees that you and your product are the perfect fit, price won’t matter.

It reminds me of what Marc LeBlanc says: Get the fist.

“The fist” means someone hears your pitch, your value proposition; then they slam their fist down on the table and said, “Man, we gotta get THAT!”

Always sell value before price. Get the fist.

Oh, and if you ever make it over to Charlie Gito’s, get the snapper.

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
How do you “get the fist”?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS…
Share your best “value before price” story here!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag
www.hellomynameisscott.com

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A chicken ain’t nuthin’ but a bird

My Grandpa Frank always told me, “A chicken ain’t nuthin’ but a bird.”

For years I struggled with the meaning of that phrase. I even googled it a few times it and had no luck discovering its origin, other than the song by Cab Calloway.

So I asked him one day.

“Scotty, age is nothing but a number,” Grandpa reminded me. “Especially when customers or coworkers don’t take you seriously because you’re young. A chicken ain’t nuthin’ but a bird.”

EXAMPLE: think back to 1997. Tiger Woods shocks the world by winning The Masters by a whopping 12 strokes.

He was 21 years old.

AND PICTURE THIS: After hugging his father, Earl Woods, Tiger stands on the 18th Green with tears in his eyes. A live crowd of thousands (and a TV audience of millions) watch Tiger slip on that coveted green jacket to become the youngest golfer in history to win The Masters.

Do you think Tiger was still worried about his age?

Do you think all those raving fans that witnessed sports history CARED about his age?

Heck no. Because in sports, in business and in life: abilities trump age.

Especially on Sundays.

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
Ever used used your abilities to trump your age?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS…
Give us an example here!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag
www.hellomynameisscott.com

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Creativity is magnetic

OK, so, maybe you’re not an extrovert.

Maybe you’re not the life of the party.

And maybe you’re not the type of person to just go up and talk to anybody.

Does that mean you’re headed up Approachability Creek without a paddle? Not at all! Especially when you bring creativity to the table. Because creativity is magnetic.

Let me say that again: CREATIVITY. IS. MAGNETIC.

For example, think about the most creative person you know.

A friend.
A coworker.
A former English professor.
A crazy aunt from your mom’s side.

Are they the type of person others LOVE being around?

Most likely.

See, creative people are magnetic for a few reasons. First of all, consider this equation:

Creativity = Fun = Smiling = Approachability

(Duh!)

Secondly, creativity brings out the inner child. And we all know how approachable children are. Think about it: have you ever met an uncreative five year-old? No way!

Lastly, creative people tend to be challenging. (In a good way, that is.) They make you think – or rethink – differently. They break your patterns. They ask great questions. They make suggestions you never would have considered.

Kind of like my friend Matt Homann. He’s been an idea collector his whole life. He founded LexThink!, a collaborative brain-storming consultancy that brings together cool, big-thinking people to discuss innovative ways to change professional practice.

He’s actually a lawyer by trade, but he tells people not to hold that against him.

But seriously folks…

Anyway, in the last few months, Matt Homann has become one of my favorite go-to guys. Especially when I have a new idea or project. Every time we get together, either for lunch or at a networking event, I’m always bummed out when our time is up.

Because his creativity is just THAT magnetic.

So here’s the point: if you want to be more approachable, be more creative.

It’s that simple.

And don’t you dare say, “But I’m not the creative type,” or “I’m a left brain person!” or “I wasn’t born creative.”

BIG mistake.

Creativity is a SKILL. Which means you can LEARN how to get more of it. Try these four suggestions:

1. Affirm it. Rid yourself of any negative self-talk related to a lack of creativity. Even if you can draw a straight line, never tell yourself you’re “not creative.” If you do, that’s exactly what you will become.

2. Hang with it. Think about the top ten most creative people you know. Plan to get together with one per week. Listen, watch and learn. Their brilliance WILL rub off. And if it doesn’t, at least you’ll have fun hanging out.

3. Practice it. Write. Journal. Use whiteboards. Draw. Go online and search for “creativity exercises” or “creative prompts.” Attend creativity workshops. All these resources are readily available and perfect practice.

4. Study it. How many books on creativity did you read last year? I suggest exploring the works of Edward DeBono, Michael Michalko and Steven Pressfield. Try one a month.

Oh yeah, one last thing.

The other day (while reading a creativity book), I ran across the following quotation from Maya Angelou.

“You can’t run out of creativity. The more you use it, the more you have.”

Sweet.

Creativity. Is. Magnetic.

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
Who’s the most creative person you know?

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
Tell us why they’re magnetic.

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag
www.hellomynameisscott.com

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What they won’t tell you in The Secret

I’m pretty much obsessed with The Secret.

You can’t argue it. It really is a cool movie.

Smart. Poignant. Inspirational.

And of course, deliciously hokey.

Which isn’t to say it’s bad. Just because something is hokey doesn’t mean it’s ineffective. I’ve personally applied several visualization tips from The Secret and seen some incredible results in my personal and professional life.

But, (and this is a BIG butt, here)…

The people in The Secret make it look EASY.

Which is kind of misleading. Because it’s not easy.

You can’t just “think” your way to success.
You can’t just make a vision board and expect stuff to happen.

Honestly, I think if The Secret were true to life, it would be a ten-hour movie.

AND, nine hours and forty-seven minutes of those ten hours would be all those good looking, impossibly positive, super successful people telling the camera about:

o All the grunt work
o All the long hours
o All the insufferable crap
o All the family members and friends who didn’t see them for months at a time because they were working so hard

…COMBINED with their mental and spiritual prowess to create success.

That would be a little more believable.

IN SHORT: 90% of success isn’t seen.

People like Tiger Woods, Donald Trump, Jack Canfield, (insert rich and successful person here)…

…work their ASSES off!

But you don’t see that. That’s not what they show on FOX. Or ESPN. Or The Secret.

You see the 10.

You don’t see Tiger Woods, the greatest golfer in the world, when he’s practicing for six hours a day.

You just see his 350-yard drive.

You don’t see Donald Trump, the most successful businessman in the world, when he’s working 18-hour days.

You just see his buildings sell for millions.

And you don’t see Jack Canfield, the most successful author in the world, when he’s secluding himself in a cabin for nine months to write his next book.

You just see his name on the bestseller list.

So, next time you turn on the TV, flip open Golf Digest or hear someone talking about how cool (and how easy) The Secret is, just remember one thing:

Nobody sees the 90.

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
What do you think about The Secret?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS…
Tell us your secret…here!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag
www.hellomynameisscott.com

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