Tag Archives: leadership
CTRL ALT DELETE: @MitchJoel On Leadership,Sexy Marketing In A Digital Age | VIDEO
Article by Mila Araujo Google Profile+
Its time for a new age and a new approach.
Business “as usual” exists no more. As business owners, executives and upcoming professionals look to make sense of the current environment, Mitch Joel‘s latest book could not come at a better time. Ctrl Alt Delete reviews the essential aspects of what businesses must focus on to succeed and excel through this transitional time which he labels “purgatory”.
Mitch provides a valuable introspective that will benefit anyone, but perhaps the audience who will benefit most are those CEO’s and business leaders who are struggling with reservations about online investment, or those who do not “get it” at all.
This is not a book about social media, Facebook and Twitter. It’s about real business concerns. The stuff in the trenches, the stuff that produces profit and dollars. It’s serious.
At a time where the next steps seem unclear to many this book puts forth compelling examples and clarifies concepts as to why focus must shift for business to survive.
Mitch Joel is an author, podcaster and President of Twist Image – one of the largest independent Digital Marketing agencies in North America. He is known as a marketing and communications visionary, interactive expert and community leader. When I heard about his upcoming book, I expected to delve into Mitch’s brilliant marketing mind, but the book was far richer and focused on the essential mindset shifts required for business leaders to succeed in our evolving “business-scape”. This is not a book about marketing, this is a book about success, about adapting and understanding what it takes to serve the modern consumer. It is well suited to entrepreneurs, professionals, business owners and anyone looking to strengthen their business to respond to the needs of consumers in this ultra connected time.
Utilitarian Marketing is Sexy
Everyone wants to know what the next big thing will be. When it comes to marketing, Mitch discusses the need for businesses to embrace a “kind” culture and focus energy on looking for ways to enhance their consumers lives through their marketing efforts: give them something they need. In the video below, filmed during his presentation at 140 Montreal in May 2012, Mitch highlights one of the stories found in the book. It supports a key concept that he presents as Utilitarian Marketing.
If businesses can find ways to make their customers lives easier, remove the friction from their experiences, while keeping things as simple as possible, they will succeed and move forward through this “purgatory”. An important take away is the fact that people have moved from multiple screens to “One Screen” and that the majority of the consumers are on mobile, the key strategy needs to be to create something that the consumer must have. Taking advantage of the potential reach to the mobile consumer, companies will be fighting for valuable digital real estate, the app on their consumer’s phones.
A key piece of advice: It doesn’t have to be complicated.
The book warns people that perhaps too often, businesses have gotten so mixed into things that the levels of complication they have created are what hinder them. The answer: review, revise and keep it simple – do one or two things great. Reboot!
On Leadership & Charting The Path For the Future
Going into the second half of the book, I wasn’t sure what to expect, however I was pleasantly surprised. This section addresses a critical area of need in most businesses today: mindshift . As with any strong business approach, Mitch dissects the core of what is at the heart of any business: the individuals working within it. Although the book’s basis is in marketing, it doesn’t take long to realize that what is really needed to succeed in today’s environment is a complete switch of mindset to what he refers to as a digital first posture. A switch that must take it’s roots in the leadership of any organization and extend through to every single player.
From a personal perspective, having had numerous conversations with many leaders in the community and business owners from across Canada and the US, Mitch couldn’t be more on target. I’ve discussed similar concepts in previous posts here and here. We see this challenge every day, people who are resting on the laurels of how business was always done, not realizing that the consumer is changing. Pockets of people who stay away from our technological advancements, leaning on the excuse that “face to face” is the only way to go, are sadly misguided not realizing that indeed there is no substitute for face to face conversation and relationship building, but what the consumer is demanding, and where they are connecting and feeling value is through the little things that help them in their day to day lives.
Utilitarian marketing is not about taking away “relationships” and replacing them with computers, it’s completely separate. It is about reaching your consumers where they are, and giving them something they need. Tell me this is not where the core of value will be.
For those still on the fence, and not knowing where to go next, Mitch invites you into a personal dialogue and conversation via Ctrl Alt Delete, he takes the time to share with you many case studies, examples and even personal stories that help switch the reader’s perspective to understand what the implications are of the changes we are seeing in society. Clarifying what it will take within organizations to make that jump out of purgatory and into rolling success.
I strongly recommend this book, and look forward to hearing your comments and insights below.
- For those of you who are lost, pick this up for direction.
- For those of you who work for an organization who do not work on culture and think sales gimmicks or Facebook alone will save the business, pick this up and give it to the CEO. Not only will they thank you, but you’ll assure yourself a better work environment with an innovative culture for years to come.
- For those who miss the boat, or who wish to stay in the dark, enjoy the slow ride downwards because while others will reboot, adapt and shine, you’ll be left behind and as you look at your cell phone wondering why the lines aren’t ringing at your business you may look back and finally realize it’s because you chose to look another way.
For more insight from Mitch, you can subscribe to his weekly podcast here or follow his blog here. Ctrl Alt Delete is available on Kindle and through order on Amazon here, pick it up and start rebooting your business and your life. It’s time to move into the digital age with some solid leadership and innovation, this book maps a solid path and is a must read.
- Go…now & prosper.
Related articles
Stay tuned for my post appearing this week in the #BEALEADER community where I focus on the leadership aspect of the book & the benefits of being “Squiggly”. You can also check out the articles below, as well as Mark Schaefer’s post from today: Carving a path through leadership “hell” with Mitch Joel.
Cultures of Success:Your Job Is to Make Me Look Good | A Two Way Street
“Your job is to make me look good.”
The first time I heard someone say that, I thought, what an obnoxious saying. Lately, the more I think about it, the more I see it is true. The phrasing is a little rough, but the reality is there, all of our jobs are to make someone look or feel good. If we do this, we will have success.
I’ll take care of you, you take care of me.
- Your clients want you to make them feel valued and while you are at it save them or make them money and help them be successful.
- Your employees want the same thing
- Your company wants the same
- Your Facebook fans and Twitter followers also want this – give them something to share that makes them funny, smart, helpful, compassionate…or smile.
You get the picture.
At the end of it all, you want this too.
You need to surround yourself with people who “make you look good”.
As I was thinking about this, I came across this tweet from tonight’s “Lead From Within” twitter chat:
A10: The people we surround ourselves with make the difference between failure and success! #leadfromwithin
— LaRae Quy (@LaRaeQuy) April 10, 2013
The quote is right on.
Forget about the Jargon : Focus on Community
Forget about marketing, about objectives, about all the jargon that leads you to read more about how to be successful online (and off) and stop for a minute and think about how powerful it is when you have a community around you who cares, who supports you, who believes in you and essentially through all that makes you feel good, which in turn makes you look good.
I am thankful for my communities, for these people every day.
If a brand accomplishes this, then I am beyond “wowed”.
When you take a look around, who is driving your success, and how do you help lift the people around you get where they are going?
How often do you think about that, and how often are you focused on making people look good?
Focus on that. It’s a two way street, and if you focus on your side…the rest just follows.
What do you think?
- When you think about the people around you, about your success, what are your keys?
- More notably, what happens when we don’t make the people around us look good, when there is no support, when people are out for themselves? Isn’t that what really drives the differences between success and mediocrity?
We are living in an interesting time, where social media allows us to live in this environment where people & brands who work as a team, who share and are giving and who recognize others see success – it’s not unlike the “real life world” – it just is a little harder to see. If you take a close look whether it’s in the workplace or in circles of friends, it’s those groups who have the confidence and generosity to spotlight those around them, who provide opportunities and share freely, who create cultures of success and creativity.
It’s not about social media. It’s about leadership, life and curating positive behaviors that attract & keep positive people around us – cultures of success.
5 Ways to Use Video for Employee Engagement
The core of your business: Your Employees
People often spend so much time trying to figure out how to reach their customers, grow sales and use social media for these purposes that they are at risk of forgetting the key members of their community: their employees.
Video is a powerful tool for employee engagement. People often think “video” then limit their thinking on what they can do with it. Companies should not limit themselves to focus on product or service offerings when they have a whole cast of stars within their team.
Here are 5 Ways to use video to spotlight your employees
…and in the process increase their engagement and create opportunity for your community to also get to know your business better.
When You’re Overrun With Fear. #Leadership #Marketing #Culture and Social Media
The underlying theme for much of what I have been seeing lately seems to have it’s roots in fear.
Online and offline, people everywhere seem to be stunted by fear. This not only hurts your business, but it closes doors. The worst part about fear is that not only is it hurting you, but I think in many ways it is obvious to those around you, and one must give some thought to the concept that people can “smell fear”. When the environment is fear, people adapt and start to alter their behaviors to their own detriment.
Fear vs. Success
Success is bred of confidence – even if that confidence is in the fact that when you take a risk, something may go wrong (fear) however you will not let it stop you because you know you can make something out of it. Amber Osborne wrote a beautiful post that covers this idea here.
Leadership, Marketing and Culture
The greatest ideas in the world and the most innovative changes do not come from those who fear. They come from those willing to put themselves on the line, who face realities, who respond, and who also take a chance.
In the workplace, fear of speaking up can hinder and organization by eliminating the opportunity for members of the community to drive positive change by sharing ideas. Often it’s the collaborative perspective of people at all levels that add to the ability for a company to change with the needs of the consumer and to increase efficiency.
The Enagaged Mind: 5 Reasons Every Serious Professional Should Use Social Media for Business
Your World Isn’t “The World”
If you want to know the value of social media and social networking for business, you need to be able to agree that your world is limited. That without social media, you live “in a box” – maybe it’s your box, but a box nonetheless. Don’t believe me? Keep reading.
You need to understand that to be the best at what you do, you need to be educated and knowledgeable about what is happening in your field, in the world, with your consumers and your competitors. Surely, you agree with me here.
Take a few moments with me right now, in this post I am going to share with you exactly why social is critical to the leaders in your company. Why taking advantage of the opportunities in social media is critical for you. I am not going to discuss the marketing aspect here. What I am talking about here is personal development, innovation and the tools to always stay on top of your game.
Aviva Empowers Communities for a 4th Year Starting Today @AvivaCF #BeTheChange
The Aviva Community Fund Launches this week for it’s 4th consecutive year. This social media based contest puts the power into the hands of the communities around them to have a vote and make positive change possible with much needed funding. The Fund has given away millions of dollars to grass roots organizations and individuals who have come up with ideas to make positive change in their communities. You can check out previous winners here.
“I wanted to make a difference in my community for all children with disabilities, so how could I pass on the opportunity to enter the Aviva Community Fund?” said Kelly Meissner, idea generator behind 2011 Aviva Community Fund Winner Kate’s Kause. After winning $60,000 Kate’s Kause was able to build a fully accessible playground for the entire Elmira, Ontario community to use.
Starting today, Canadians can go to AvivaCommunityFund.org to submit ideas that will have a positive effect on their local community. After rallying support from friends, family, neighbours and co-workers, the most popular ideas will have a chance to be funded with the $1,000,000 Aviva Community Fund.
In the competition’s first three years, Canadians overwhelmingly answered the call proposing over 6,000 ideas and casting more than six million votes in support of causes from every province and territory.
Speaking about Change
I am really honored to be Aviva’s Quebec Speaker at the Community Fund Launch, where I where I will be highlighting some of the amazing opportunities this project gives business people and individuals to really get involved in supporting their communities.
Not only does Aviva give an opportunity to communities to grow and receive support for their positive change ideas, they also give their brokers an opportunity to support the projects in their areas. A great way for an insurance company to give back on many levels.
This competition not only uses social media to help spread the word, and allow people everywhere to support these local organizations, but it also creates a pattern of engagement that extends far beyond the contest itself. I wrote about this last year on 12 Most, and I invite you to continue reading below to learn about the 12 Most Ways Aviva Community Fund Excels at Community Giving.
You can also check out the ideas starting to appear here, and remember it doesn’t cost you anything to support a cause, just a click of support every day to help your favorite cause make it through to round two!
12 Most Charitable Ways @AvivaCF Excels in Community Giving
by Mila Araujo
What if I told you I had a million dollars to give away, and all you had to do to get part of it was to send me your request and if you could get your friends to support you, I’d hand it out? What would you do?
Well the Aviva Community Fund is doing just that, but they aren’t throwing it at you directly, they are giving it to your community so that not only you benefit, but your whole area can share the wealth, improve your life, your family’s and everyone around you.
What really sets this social good project aside from the rest is that it is not just a giveaway, its a competition. A competition that touches every single area of community in a positive way, and all anyone has to do to make it happen is embrace the idea of community. The true idea of working together and seeing the results of teamwork for social good.
Here are the 12 Most ways that @AvivaCF Excels in Community Giving
1. Its about getting what you need
Want a million dollars? Well you can’t get it yourself. You need your friends, your family, your community to get involved. Doing this instantly creates positive energy in your group. In today’s world we are often too busy to talk to each other, to take the time out to stop and connect with those around us.
We Are Your Competition : Social Media & Your Business – Do You Make the Cut?
What happens when you bring social into the workplace?
- Employee voices become important and heard
- Issues rise to the surface, as a result they get addressed, and things become stronger and better
- Your product quality becomes a spotlight – open to attack at any time- therefore will be reinforced by integrity
- Your Customer Service comes under scrutiny – you have to live up to your promises – you are accountable
- Your fans become advocates
- Your critics become the force turning you onto positive change
- You actually start to listen
- Feedback is real and not solicited
- You have the world to answer to. Not just your boss, not just your team or one client. The world.
- You, as a company, must define and know who you are. You don’t just recite a mission statement, you feel it and live it. (If you don’t understand this, read my recent post on Branding)
How long are you going to stand there and watch things pass you by? How long are you going to stick to what you have always done, while the world and your consumers change around you?
It shouldn’t be that way, it shouldn’t take all this to make you do all these things for your businesses, but social does do this for you. If forces you to question, to reinforce, to be greater.
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- That is why for any business who truly wants to be great (or thinks they are already) – getting into social is one hell of a great way to get your business in order!
Every aspect of your business must be aligned.
What’s Holding You Back?
All your fears of getting into social, all your concerns – I believe they all stem from your unconscious belief that you, in fact, are not able to operate in the public eye.
Maybe that’s what companies who are not yet using social, who are dabbling in the sidelines should really think about.
Do you really have what it takes?
Then get on board. Get your business in order. Start showing the world what you’ve really got. Show your employees, your clients and your community. That’s how you’ll grow. That’s how you’ll be better.
The Alternative:
Stay where you are and keep doing what you always did – but keep in mind, some of us out there are pushing ourselves to our limits, setting the bar higher, working every day to keep being the best – and guess what, we are your competition .
Good luck.
Where Leaders Are Born : The Impact of Educators #OKSchoolMem
One of the things I love about social media and the emergence of blogging (as opposed to “old school” websites) is that it not only allows you to find information but to connect with others. When you read something and have something to say, it pushes you to think deeper in order to comment – enter the dialogue… The engagement we hear so many speak about is much deeper than just casual chatter, it’s the result of thoughtful contribution through our interactions that allow us to share ourselves through our views and build relationships as a result.
We are all made up of different experiences, thoughts, behaviors – many of these with their roots in our upbringing and childhood.
Last year I read a blog post, “I Was Born this Way. Asking Entrepreneurs: Were you?” by Tobey Deyes, an excellent thought provoking post and great example of an engaging read, which inspired many wonderful comments asking readers to dig back into childhood and share.
A few weeks ago, I was approached by the Private School Expo for participation in a “Blog Hop”. The idea was to write about a childhood memory from school. As I reflected on my childhood experiences – one story came to mind – very much in the same way Tobey’s post had inspired me, this blogging challenge Lead me to thinking…
The same question could be asked of leadership, where is it born?
Photo from The Priory School
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My old school sweater, something that to this day, although I really have no use for, have never been able to part with. Great memories The Priory School.
My Story
When I was 11 years old, I attended the Priory School in Westmount, Quebec. Many of the teachers who were there then, have only just retired in the past couple of years, the dedication to their students, their caring and involvement in students personal development was strongly felt. I loved my school, I loved going there every day, the environment was always warm in every aspect down to the home made meals, and their notorious macaroni and cheese.
The Key To The Attic.
Out of pride for my school, it occurred to me one day, that we did not have our own school paper. From all I had seen on TV, great schools had great papers. So I approached the teachers, other students and anyone who would listen with the suggestion of a school paper. The resources were not there. I was sure if we had the vision, there must be a way. I came up with solutions to all the things stopping us. Then, one day the principal of the school, Miss. McConnon approached me. She told me that she had heard about the idea and my proposal. She told me that if I could take care of the “red tape” (printing , production, writing, getting a team together) then she would allow me to publish the first school paper! I was confident that I could do it, and set out to work. I “interviewed” classmates, built a team who could write and draw, asked my Dad (who had his own company) if I could use his photocopier for the printing, ran a contest for our “mascot” and came back to Miss McConnon with the details.
Our most artistic member, Sean, showed us all how to draw this image which became the mascot and logo of The Priory Press (1985-1986) – I can still remember how to draw it!
When I presented my plan, not only did she give me approval, but she recognized there would have to be somewhere to have “meetings” and do all the work, so she entrusted us with the keys to the school attic, which became the “top secret” hideout and home of “The Priory Press” the school’s first newspaper – published and written by a very small group of kids (there were 4 of us) filled with energy and vision and passion.
Who would have thought the seeds of leadership would be nurtured by a key to an attic? Yet they were.
Above and Beyond
This story is probably one of the most amazing stories I can think of in how a teacher, educator and school went above and beyond to encourage and nurture a child’s dreams. When this opportunity to share a school related story came up, this immediately came to mind. If you were to ask me where leadership is born, I would have to tell you in childhood. Having parents, friends, schools and teachers to recognize these things drive us all forward. Miss McConnon, in the true spirit of the Priory School, recognized this. She went above and beyond to make sure that my ideas were encouraged. Where I am sure so many others may have simply closed the door on the dream, she gave me the key.
This support and belief in me from the school, nurtured more seeds than she could have realized, as I have gone on through life always believing in my dreams, making plans, setting goals, and always believing that if there is a way, I can find it.
Friends and family play an important part, but when you surround yourself, or your kids with encouragement from all angles, this is where you will see the ultimate success.
Opportunities like this do not simply exist at private schools, they exist everywhere where educators can see the true potential in the child. A great deal of my admiration goes out to The Priory School for their dedication to maintaining this approach of nurturing and empowering their students throughout the past 25 years (since I was there). When it came time for my own daughter to attend school, this is also where she found a home and the same kind of support I had received many years before.
The Impact of Caring Educators
I have always considered myself privileged to have had parents who believed that one of the most important things, besides love, was education. They were not wildly rich, they worked hard and made my education a priority. When I was young, I heard about how important is was and it all made sense, but as an adult I can’t tell you how many countless times I have reflected on the different schools I have attended and the different advantages I have had simply because of the extra support I received in school.
I believe education should be accessible to all, there are extremely hard working people in the school system, they are heroes shaping our world for the future of the children, who become our leaders.
If I can leave you with nothing else from this post, remember that children are formed into adults by their experiences, the more we can offer them – not just as our own children, but in the population, the better our world will be.
I think leadership stems from many things, but I believe it is born when children find support, encouragement and guidance to make their dreams realities and realize the potential in their ability. What do you think?
Full Disclosure: Bloggers were compensated to participate in this “Blog Hop”. Content requirements were to share a school memory . My comments here are my own and felt from the heart.
Because this blog is to support education, I will also in turn be “supporting education” by donating my stipend from this post to Share the Warmth, an organization here in Montreal that provides school supplies, breakfasts and lunches to kids in need.
Their Mission is:
“To Awaken Hopes and Dreams by Overcoming Hunger and Poverty”
Please consider donating to them if you can – if you have kids in private schools – or consider donating to an organization in your area. The education and well being of children in this world are all our responsibilities. Please help be the change.
I will end this post on this note:
I can never show enough gratitude for the people who have touched my life, encouraged and supported me.
Brilliance and access to education should not be limited by money. For those of us who have had these privileges, we should use that knowledge to give back to the world because the more people who get the support and encouragement they need, the better this world will be.
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I’m participating in the Our Kids Private School Expo Blog Hop.
Yesterday’s School Memories post can be found on “Good Karma baby!“Join the conversation! Facebook: www.facebook.com/ourkidsnet Looking for a Private School for your child?
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On Inspiration from “The Life and Times of a Remarkable Misfit” by @AJLeon : A Push In the Right Direction
“Don’t ever stay inside when the stars are kind enough to dance for you.” ~@AJLeon
I just read AJ Leon’s manifesto: The Life and Times of a Remarkable Misfit. An extremely powerful piece of writing. Touching on many things that we hear people say often, but in his case, through AJ’s passion and conviction you will know it to be true.
I met AJ and Melissa Leon, the brilliance behind Misfit Inc. on the sidewalk just outside the 92nd Street Y after #140conf12 ( The 140 Conference) in New York a few months ago. We spoke only long enough for an introduction, they were passing by quickly, and I was on my way back to Montreal. I regretted not being able to have the time to speak longer, yet, I was incredibly grateful to meet them in person – even if just for a moment. Now, a couple of months later, I had the pleasure of touching upon their incredible work, by way of this manifesto. I originally thought it might cover their work and travel, which are remarkable, but was even more pleased when I realized this was truly AJ’s personal account on how it is possible to change the world. Complete with some clever lists of do’s and don’ts.
