So in the meantime there will be no more blog posts here – but please come back when it’s back – bigger and better!

The shop has been there for a long time so I guess it has a steady clientele  who do know what is on offer and it’s what they want.

But are the owners missing an opportunity to attract other customers by making it so hard to find out what they have to offer?

Now why am I mentioning this here?

Well it occurs to me that there is a lot to be learned from this example in relation to being found by people who want to buy what you are selling.  If you are an employee ( or in career transition)or a business owner somebody will be in the market for what you have to offer.

That’s why the quality of  what you say in your public online profile is so important.

For employees it’s all well and good to put your job history and education on your LinkedIn profile but what does it say about how you work? How would anyone who does not know you yet know if you would fit well in their team? What special skills do you have that would enhance and improve what they are doing already?

And for business owners does what your website say make sense to a potential purchaser? How interactive is your website ( your shop front…) to allow us to ask questions to help us decide if we want to buy from you ? If you have chosen to include Facebook for your business how easy is it to link with that from the website?  How can we find out things like who works with you and what kind/level of service you offer that marks you out from your competitors?

It has never been easier to put out information to potential customers.  Most of us we are still learning how to do that effectively.  But doing nothing means that the new customers you might benefit from are walking right on by..

Did you know that I offer 1:1 support to help you find out what is possible when using LinkedIn. Details here 

“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds”

You can’t say fairer than that.

We know of course that there will be other things that might come in the way of getting the job done.

Some of them will be unexpected,  unpredictable and unavoidable.

And some will have to do with the person whose job it is.

We all know people who plough on with their work to reach their goals regardless of what life throws at them

And we will probably know someone who crumbles at the first setback.

Successful people usually have a trail of what others would consider to be “failures” behind them but what they deal with as steps on the way.

So with all of this in mind is there something stopping you from reaching your goal – and if so what are you going to do about it?

Coaching can help you work through what you are trying to achieve and how you are going to do it. Get in touch for a no obligation chat jackie@consultcameron.com

There is an explanation about where the United States Postal Service Creed comes from here

” I like the look  of you and those around you so I think we should connect. Here’s my card . Now give me your address book”

What do you think the response might be?

Well in the UK we tend to err on the side of polite so there might be a bit of a tumbleweed moment with an awkward silence though there might just be someone who tells you where to get off.

It won’t happen though will it?

So why do so many people behave this way using social media?

What I described was the equivalent to someone taking a look through LinkedIn – finding someone who has a number of contacts  and sending an invitation to connect with

no introduction – leaving the recipient to wonder where they know you from

saying that they are your friend – when you are clearly not

not tailoring the message to say why being connected might be beneficial to you both – making the assumption that they will just accept that because you think it’s a good idea  then it actually is.

Think about using social networking sites as an extension of your real life networking activity – including the same level of courtesy in both.

We were having a sandwich in the park because the weather was glorious and afterwards I made my way over there. Eventually, after standing in line ( aka  a queue but I was in the US after all) for a while I reached the entrance to the “Ladies” ( as usual the Gents was – ahem – flowing far more freely).  The attendant came out and asked the woman in front of  me to stand on the other side of the doorway – not because she was blocking it but because she was spoiling the view of the beautiful display of a huge vase of fresh flowers!  That made us all smile.

Then a guy came up to the front of the line with a little girl ( who might have been his grand-daughter) saying that she needed to go to the toilet urgently. The attendant took responsibility for her but questioned Grandad gently asking if she had really said that or he just wanted to bypass the others standing waiting as the young lady in question did not really seem fussed. It was all done with good humour though.

The facilities were worth their award. More fresh flowers by the sink, no public toilet smell, spotlessly clean floors and wall tiles. That would be because in the short time I was in the attendant wiped them and the sinks down and freshened each cubicle after a couple of visitors. She smiled and chatted as she went. When I thanked her as I left she smiled broadly and thanked me for visiting . Lots of people were thanking her – they got the same treatment.

What’s your vision of a toilet attendant? I expect it’s not of the lady I met.

She clearly loves and takes great pride in  her job ( or she is a very good actress) and because she does she does it very well.  How many people can ( or will) say that about their job?

By the way – the final observation I had that was really the icing on the cake was that there was no charge or  space or expectation for leaving a tip. Wonderful….

Link here to the full Metro article

Would you like to explore how to find the a job you would love – or find a way to love your job? Get in touch to discuss how coaching could help you with that. jackie@consultcameron.com

“There’s a lesson there about not burning bridges”

Indeed.

And that still holds good today. Everyone we met and worked with in the past might appear in a different guise later in our careers. They might even be your boss! So no matter how badly you feel about how things were while you worked with them it is wise to keep those thoughts close to your chest .

It has to be said that those were different times in terms of means of communication. Not everybody had email never mind any of the tools we have now. It concerns me how often I see someone commit to writing online what they think of their current boss  !   Never mind that this  might  turn up somewhere in a Google search sometime in the future .

And ever when you have left an organisation it’s usually better to explain that it was time to move on than go into the nuts and bolts of who did what and who was right or not.  The person listening could well be an influencer/recruiter in the very company you want to work for but which holds loyalty and sensitivity high in their corporate values.

It can be tough to put a positive spin on an emotional situation.  Being made redundant is never easy ( been there…) but the story you tell will say much more about you than you can imagine.

So even if you feel wronged…and think that telling the world that’s how you feel will make you feel better … I urge you to step back, take a breath  and think again.

So much has changed and here are some of my memories

• Back then very few blogs existed so few people knew what they were. I did a lot of explaining and found that the best way to do that was to send them a link. I met a lot of skeptics who could not see the point and to be honest I was really using it as an experiment to see how long it would take Google to find my website. I had been told it would take about 3 months of regular posting – and yes indeed that is exactly how long it took. I remember the first time I googled and found that it was there. No focus on key words or anything so sophisticated – just searching for me!
• I am delighted that many of the people I “met” back then – whose blogs I read and commented on and who reciprocated  - are still in my online social circle. There was an air of  experimentation and supporting that I particularly liked.
• The first comment I got blew me away – somebody was reading what I was writing AND added something. The social  in social media – a conversation had started.
• Through those early relationships I was introduced to twitter and found a way to tweet links to the blog  which increased traffic and those who interacted with it/me because of that.
• After consistently for a few months I realised that it was better to post less with good content than post a lot of drivel. ( I know – that’s open to discussion!!) So I gave myself permission to write less often  and saw that that did not mean that my regular readers deserted me. Good lesson for social media activity generally.
• It still sounds like me. I was very aware that I wanted to make my blog a route for people who did not know me yet to find out more about what I did.  Feedback I got from people who did know me in real life was that my writing sounded like how I spoke which was fantastic – because that’s exactly what I had hoped for but I don’t think I could have planned /tested it. This means that when I meet people who originally know me through my blog or the other social media I use they feel like they already know me.
• So often the idea for content of posts is sparked by great stuff from other writers. I  love when I can include their post too and really develop themes and topics. And when the converse happens and others mention me in their blogs – well that is just magic

What struck me though was that this was a tale from less than 7 or 8 years ago.  And what was happening then has such a huge impact on what we are doing now…and what will happen tomorrow .

I have been blogging now for 5 years. That possibly makes me an “early adopter”  – in UK terms anyway.  I grew into using social media slowly and steadily but I have been aware that the changes and what is new seems to have speeded up in the past couple of years.

As a result of the interest in others who have been a bit slower to get involved  I startd to be askd to  talk about what I do and as so many people asked if they could “pick my brains” on the topic  I realise that there was a market for this. One of the biggest challenges I have is how to descibe myself.

Some of my clients describe me as their “guru” . That makes me smile. Others call me an expert ..

But I don’t consider myself to be either of those because  – as far as I am concerned – things are moving far too fast to be able to say that with authority.

And that’s the challenge for all of us – no matter how comfortable or not we are using the tools. Some people have still to take the first step but most people now at the very least understand that Facebook exists and have  rough idea of what it is used for. Flowing from that other sites like Linkedin, Twitter, Youtube often come with a whole lot misunderstanding and concern. Most of my clients will tell me that they don’t want to engage with Facebook professionally as it is all about family, friends and fun. I was kind of in that camp til Facebook pages changed  – in March this year – a whole 6 months ago!

I think the speed of continuing development of social networking sites – Google+ being the latest and the one I have still to see value in – might serve to push those who have struggled to connect so far to take action now or to fall even further back.  Only time will tell.

What I do know though is that most days someone asks me a social media question . And I have been booked to speak to 2 professional groups in the next few months and to lead inhouse sessions on the topic. And the number of individuals and small business owners who have asked me to “buddy” them as they find their feet/voice/strategy is growing.

What I do have is some practice – or maybe expertise (I know…shades of the same thing maybe) – and  people want me to share that. Which is great. I could never have included that in my business plan when I set up Cameron Consulting coming up for 8 years ago – because it was pretty much just being invented then !

If you would like to find out more about in-house training, buddying or would like to engage me as a speaker at your event just get in touch for a no obligation chat  jackie@consultcameron.com or 07775 823862

We got to the Dram in Woodlands Road and the room was buzzing with anticipation from the already assembled audience and with only a few spare places there was nowhere to go for a quiet preparation. We were on!

Watching the amazing Janey Godley - our MC for the night – hold the fort while some technical issues were tackled  it was all becoming very real and before we knew it the first of our Funny Women for the night  Michelle Roger ( aka @tartancat) was called to the mic ( except she wasn’t because it wasn’t working – and wouldn’t  for the rest of the night). Thankfully the 1st  time Funny Women were able to raise their voices ( it all helps to even out nervous wobbles believe me).

When it came to my turn I had had the benefit of watching both Michelle and Ruth and I realised that the only difference between doing what I was doing last night and what I regularly do in front of audiences in workshops and other events was that I was supposed to make this audience laugh. How hard would that be?  – OK I’m kidding here . The BIG issue for this gig was that exactly – would I be able to make the audience laugh?

The funny thing about humour is that we all laugh at different things. Personally I am left cold by comedy that uses making unsuspecting folk look stupid to get a laughs but I will a laugh out loud at good “slapstick” falling about stuff. I prefer a comedian who talks about something that I can relate to rather than one that tells jokes or relies on punchlines but can be equally entertained by both styles. I love it when a comedian is political and ranty and makes me think through their humour ( Janey is wonderful at this). I don’t have to agree with them to laugh. Sometimes  I think sometimes it’s about the mood I’m in.

I am happy with how my set went. The audience would only know what I changed, forgot or left out if I told them so what I delivered was what they got. I did get a laugh in the middle that sticks in my mind because I had to pause to let them finish  – and BOY did that feel good.

Last night’s audience was of couse fully supportive and behind us all regardless if they knew us or not.  There was something really wonderful about looking out into a sea of faces of folk willing us to do well.

So that’s it done. On the night £1100 was raised for a mobile health clinic through Good Shepherd Healthcare and it’s not too late to donate. Follow this link if you would like to do that now.

A recording of the event was made and I should get the dvd soon.  I have never been happy to watch myself on film but for a good cause I might hold some private showings ( oooer missus).

Would I do it again?  You know something….I could probably be persuaded!

Now off to nab a Fringe Venue for 2012 

So – after sharing what I was going to do with friends and family and being greeted with either “you are very brave” or “you must be mad” from them all it was with much trepidation that I went to my first training session on Monday.

Five of the six participants arrived at Assembly 3 – which is actually a current Edinburgh Fringe venue – and from the start we were performing. The lovely Lynne Parker led the workshop and with her support I began to believe that actually I could be funny.

 Now I will be honest here  – standing up and speaking in front of an audience does not worry me – which is a blooming good job as public speaking training is part of what I offer to clients.   So I was at a loss as to why  – as soon as comedy or being funny came into the equation  – I was a nervous wreck. Maybe it’s because I have read too many biographies of comedians that I admire and their many stories of “dying” on stage. Or maybe it’s because I can cover up most of my shortcomings with a mixture of bravado and bluff ( and skill of course) but this seemed to be a step way too far.

But as a coach I know that the best learning comes from doing something that you have not done before or doing what you do normally in a different way – and then reflecting on what happened. The reflecting part is crucial to gaining insights into what you want to do more of and how to improve things that might be better.

So overnight on Monday  – before the second ( and last!) training session the next day – I reflected on what I had learned and how I might apply that in my performance. Coming together again with my “classmates” it was clear that we had all done that to some extent and you know what – fledgling comediennes started to appear before my eyes.  In that supportive environment it was clear that each one of us had the ability to be funny.

As I write this the actual gig – which is for charity ( details here ) – is a day away. I will shortly go and practice my set.  On the advice from Lynne I will make my character bigger and more “ranty” ( ie it has a ranting theme..) so I will do it in front of a mirror to see what that might look like. I have my outfit chosen – it supports my set – and I am ready to give it a go.

Wish me luck….or whatever…

And part 2 will follow after the event!