APE Twangouts: The Difference Between Early Adopters and Innovators

January 9, 2013 by 3 Comments

Jessica Northey, Guy Kawasaki, Britt Michaelian

Over the past few days, I had the pleasure of rubbing elbows with some of new medias top early adopters and content creators at the New Media Expo in Las Vegas.  The town was abuzz with technology lovers and social butterflies who convene at these annual conferences to talk shop, network, and get caught up on the latest and greatest in the world of tech.  Being surrounded by thought leaders, groupies, lookie-lous and disruptors in Vegas was something I highly recommend you do at least once in your life if you are a new media content creator or curator.  You will come home with more ideas than you know what to do with!

After listening to Guy Kawasaki‘s awesome keynote discussion and having a very cool conversation with him on Monday morning, it was clear that Guy is not just a popular social media personality or thought leader, he is an innovator (artisanal publishing is pure genius).

What exactly is the difference between early adopters and innovators?

Do you remember studying something in high school called the Diffusion of Innovations theory that defines innovation as “an idea, practice, or object that is perceived as new by an individual or other unit of adoption”?  Me neither.  But, for the purpose of this post, it is a good spring board on this topic…

I am going to go out on a limb here and say that the difference between innovators and early adopters is that innovators have an original message or mission to deliver to the masses that will somehow change the status quo.   Early adopters then come into the picture as willing participants who are open to trying or experiencing the innovators creation.  From there, the innovative concept trickles down until the masses begin adopting it.

The participants and speakers who attend New Media Expo and CES are mostly early adopters, but after a few years of riding the new media wave, many transform into innovators.  They become confident in their use of new media and sharing fresh ideas with audiences as they pave the way for others to develop innovations.  So, I guess what I am saying is that early adopters are almost like innovation trainees.  As an example, Jessica Northey (pictured above with Guy Kawasaki and myself) is combining social platforms to create an experience that she has designed for her audience called a Twangout.


With a background in radio, Jessica was an early adopter in social media.  She utilized Twitter for online chats using the hashtag #CMchat to generate tens of millions of impressions each week that reached millions of people.  The music industry noticed as the community grew and it wasn’t long before Jessica became known as THE country music gal on Twitter.  When Google released the Hangout feature on the Google+ network, Jessica saw an opportunity to provide a new and exciting experience where her audience could not only tweet with their music and television idols, but they could also participate in a video conversation with them.  Brilliant!  The combination of Twitter and the Google Hangout naturally resulted in what is now known as the #CMchat Twangout.

There are plenty more innovators who filled the rooms at New Media Expo and CES this year, but the exciting part is watching what comes of it as the early adopters become the next generation of innovators on new and social media.  Have you witnessed a friend, content creator or personality make the leap from early adopter to innovator?  Do you think your next idea is going to make a splash of innovation?  Let’s discuss in the comments!

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How Social Media Engagement Impacts Your Brand #SocialAgame

October 30, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Building a brand is a lot like raising a child.  As a parent, you make sure your child has a solid foundation from which to grow, so that everyone in your family can have the best experience possible in life while creating a positive impact on the world.

Now, that’s the big picture.

On a day to day basis, raising a child is about making sure basic needs are met,  helping your child to feel important and competent, overcoming challenges together, being a good role model and teaching your child to make good choices (among other things).

When your child is old enough to interact on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube, a whole new set of rules comes into play.  In fact, these are the same rules that apply to building a brand on social media!

As children are jumping into social media, parents are having to get educated about parental controls, monitoring services, user terms and conditions and privacy settings while laying down ground rules for online activities.  It’s a lot more involved than many parents have the time for, so as a result, a lot of kids are getting in trouble with bullying, sexting, predators and a whole host of other problems that any generation before now would never have imagined.  Is there a way to stop the madness before it gets out of control?

Yes.  Aside from building systems and processes into both your life as a parent and your life as a business owner/brand builder…

The impact that social media has on your brand and your children can be boiled down to one word: ENGAGEMENT.

If children (and businesses) are taught how to engage on social media in a productive way, they can use Facebook, Twitter and other social platforms to connect with friends, make professional connections, reach goals and build a powerful online brand that allows them to be positive contributors to society.

The same is true for businesses/brands.

If your social media engagement style involves participating in informative conversations, empowering your friends and followers, curating a variety of useful content and supporting others to achieve positive goals in life, then your brand impact will be seen as a major asset to your company.

On the flip side, if your social engagement activities involve complaining about customer service from big brands, putting down supporters of certain political parties, snark, or forceful conversations that may look like bullying, your social engagement style may be a liability for your brand and could inhibit the growth of your business.

Social media is a powerful vehicle that can create or destroy a reputation in seconds.

It is critical that anyone who engages on social platforms leads with awareness and intention as the impact that your social engagement style has on your reputation is permanent in the digital world.

If you are a parent, this means that you must stay actively aware of your child’s social space so you can see if your child needs help.  And if you are a brand (and these days we all are), this means that any and all messaging that you put out into the digital realm must be delivered in a productive, positive and non-judgmental way if your goal is to use social media as a way to have a positive impact on your brand story.

 

 

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Social A-Game Part 6: Make Health a Priority #SocialAgame

October 17, 2012 by 1 Comment

An apple a day…

Are you drinking the water, getting the sleep, fitting in the exercise, checking in with spirit, taking care of your relationships, flossing, not sweating the small stuff…so that you can play your A-Game?

The reality of living in today’s world is that stress is everywhere and if you don’t take care of yourself, there will be consequences.  Even as a lifestyle entrepreneur, the tendency is to focus all attention on our business and our loved ones rather than ourselves.  But the truth is that if we are not taking care of our body, mind and spirit, our business and family will suffer and we will not be positive role models for our loved ones.

On top of just taking care of ourselves, there is this other issue that is arising in the age of social media where many entrepreneurs are addicted to their devices to such an extent that they don’t shower, eat of leave the house for days and their families are suffering as a result.  If you fall into this category of “heavy user” you may want to take a step back and look at the bigger picture of your life. 

 

 

 

Ignoring your health and well-being may seem like it gives you more time to focus on reaching goals or actively pursue your passions, but the truth is if you don’t take care of yourself, lack of sleep, exercise, spiritual connectedness, poor diet, poor relationships and stress will catch up to you in a physical, spiritual and/or emotional way and this could have a detrimental impact on your ability to grow your business or live a happy life.

Here is a simple 10 point inventory to check in on your health. 

Answer the following questions to see how much of a priority your health currently is and where it needs to be.

  1. Has it been under 12 months since your last annual physical?  If not, schedule it ASAP.
  2. Do you get 7+ hours of sleep every night? If not, you may be experiencing lower levels of concentration, irritability, an inability to focus or depression.
  3. How much water do you drink on a daily basis? If less than 8-10 glasses, you may be tired, irritable and have headaches.
  4. Do you eat between 5-10 fruits and veggies every day and a balance of other food groups?  If not, you may have constipation, bloating, irritability, depression, low energy and/or weight gain.
  5. Are your personal and business relationships complimentary to your concept of an ideal life?  If not, you may feel sad, frustrated, low self-esteem, depressed, helpless, confused or unhappy.
  6. Do you take time to get inspired in nature on a regular basis?  If not, you may feel stressed, overwhelmed, disconnected, irritable, or out of sorts.
  7. Do you take time every day to unplug for at least a few hours from technology?  If not, you may have insomnia, depression, weight gain, irritability, lack of focus, or a feeling of disconnect from your relationships.
  8. Do you limit your intake of sugar, alcohol and other potentially toxic substances?  If not, you may experience guilt, irritability, insomnia, diabetes, anxiety, fatigue, headaches, etc.
  9. Do you move your body (exercise, yoga, walking) for at least 30 minutes every day?  If not, you may have low energy, fatigue, insomnia, depression, constipation, increased risk of cancer, etc.
  10. Do you smile, laugh and enjoy your days on a consistent basis?  If not, you may be depressed, have low self-esteem, feel overwhelmed, feel stressed, have a hard time relating to others, have relationship problems, etc.

Many government and health organizations recommend that all adults have an annual physical, drink 8-10 glasses of water a day, sleep 7+ hours every night, eat a balanced diet, stay away from sugar and other toxins (including toxic relationships, balance online and offline time and otherwise maintain a life that is enjoyable.

If you want to play big and do great things with your life, you owe it to yourself to make your health a priority so that you can function at peek performance.  If you choose not to make your health a priority, it is essentially a form of self-sabotage.  Often times, self-sabotage has more to do with our fear of success or fear of failure than it does with our desire to follow our dreams.  So, take a moment to get honest with yourself about how high your health is on your priority list and make some notes about what changes you can make to your routine that will positively impact your physical, spiritual and emotional health.  If you have any thoughts, comments or tips, please feel free to share these in the comments.

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Social A-Game Part 5: Giving Back #SocialAgame

October 16, 2012 by Leave a Comment

One of the most important aspects of leadership is the concept of giving back.  This is a core principle of bringing your Social A-Game to your life.  It is a gift that you give to yourself and to the world.  When we lead by example, the results of giving back will be experienced by the community exponentially. So, creating a system that makes giving back a part of your lifestyle business is essential to operating at your peek performance.

The beauty of giving to others is that it can make the world a better place online, offline, in prayer or meditation or simply by sharing your smile. 

When we are playing our A-Game, we are bringing the best of us to every social interaction. We inspire others with our actions and live with integrity while sharing inspiration to live our best life with those who we engage with.  By giving back to others, we send a message to others and to the world around us that we do not take a thing for granted and that we are sincere in our words of gratitude.

 

 

Some people believe that they give back by being a good parent or friend, others believe that community service is essential if you want to truly give back to the world.  Personally, I see it as a combination of both.  When we choose to give of our time, energy and money to others regardless of whether they are our children or our neighbors, we are making the world a better place.  In addition, when we choose a cause and help to spread the word about giving to our audience, the seeds of our giving are limitless.

Do you have a cause that you actively support online and off?  Do you share the message of this cause on social media?  Have you participated in a race or an event in order to raise money and awareness for cancer, autism or a country in need? Did you document your participation in this event on social media to help spread awareness of the cause?

Do you donate a portion of your income to charity or sit on a board to help a charity raise money?  How can you give back and how do you see your giving back as playing a part in your Social A-Game?

Please share your thoughts, ideas and questions in the comments.  Thanks!

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Social A-Game Part 4: Attitude of Gratitude #SocialAgame

October 10, 2012 by 1 Comment

One of the first lessons in etiquette that most parents teach their children is the magic word combination that will shape their lives…

Please and Thank You.

If you learn to integrate these words and the meaning behind them as a part of who you are, your life will be something you truly embrace as a gift.  Conversely, if you fail to adopt these common expressions of appreciation into your daily repertoire, you may be seen as rude, demanding, self-centered or careless.  Hardly the type of qualities that any smart business owner would want to be classified as.

What many children who grow up to become adults may not realize is that expressing gratitude is not just a matter of etiquette, it is a way of enjoying life.  When we are grateful for the experiences we have (good and bad), the people in our lives, the opportunities that come our way and the growth that we experience throughout life, we give ourselves the chance to appreciate each moment.

If you choose to see each element in your life as something to be grateful for, you will develop an attitude of gratitude.  The cool thing is that this attitude not only benefits you, but it affects those around you in a positive way (including your children who will do as you do, not as you say).  People want to work with, buy from and be surrounded by people who appreciate them.  People are also drawn to others who appreciate life because it inspires them to do the same.  So, if you want to play your A-Game and move toward the success that you have envisioned, adopting an attitude of gratitude is an asset that will serve you well.

 

What would your life look like if every day started with “Thank You”?

You would wake up being thankful for your life.
Your loved ones would feel loved.
Your work would be welcomed as a gift.
Each challenge would become a lesson.
Each moment would become the present.
Your team would feel appreciate and gladly perform to the best of their ability.
Your smile would never get worn out.
Your life would be enjoyed.
Your children would learn to be grateful and appreciate life.
The world would be a happier place.

So will you?

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Bringing Your Social A-Game Part 3: Shining Leadership #SocialAgame

October 5, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Shining leadership.

Are you wondering what that means?

Of course you are.

Shining leadership is when you lead not only by example, but by shining the spotlight on those around you.

One of the most important aspects of playing at top level in your Social A-Game is allowing others to have their moments to shine and understanding that when you focus on and amplify the strengths of your children, friends, clients, partners, team, etc in living their dreams, it benefits everyone involved.

What comes around goes around, after all.

It doesn’t take away from us or our message when we empower others to step up and take center stage.  In fact, if you make your success or your message all about yourself, online or off… you may start to look more like a narcissist than a leader.

The goal is not to have all of the attention on you whether you are at a dinner party, speaking at a conference or on a social platform.  It is about listening, engaging, focusing on the gifts that everyone has to share and supporting those around you to embrace their talents and lead a life of happiness and success.  When you are playing at your top level, others will be inspired to step into the role of a leader as they watch you live and lead with generosity, integrity and grace.

Playing your A-Game actually has the ripple effect when you inspire others to step up into their role as a leader.  It’s not about standing on a soapbox and telling people to do what you say.  It is more of a lead by example model where doing your best work and encouraging others to do the same will inspire them to do their best work and so on…

 

 

Shining leadership is a form of leadership that lifts others up and makes the world a better place.  It gives everyone the opportunity to thrive and be appreciated.  It is about focusing on the positives in everyone.  And as we all know, what we focus on grows…

Does this sound like a type of leadership that you can embrace?  Why or why not?

Let’s discuss in the comments.  Thanks!

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Social A-Game Part 2 : Positive Listening #SocialAgame

October 2, 2012 by Leave a Comment

One of the most important skills you can have if you want to achieve greatness is… positive listening. 

Listening doesn’t just involve waiting for your turn to speak.  It involves really hearing, seeing and experiencing the messages that the sender is trying to convey to you.  Often times what is spoken is not what is said.  So, sharpening your listening skills is something that will help you not just in your personal life, but in business as well.

The best communicators are the best listeners.

Have you ever been listened to by someone who made you feel like no one else existed in the world but you and your words?  This was someone who was an active listener.  Conversely, have you ever talked to someone who was looking around the room, checking their phone, interrupting your thoughts, not really “getting” what you were saying?  This is someone who was not listening. It doesn’t mean that they don’t care about you or what you are saying (although you probably felt this way), it just means that they have really poor listening skills.

Communication is not just about the words that are spoken.  When you factor in the 95% of non-verbal cues that take place in a conversation, if you aren’t actively listening, you are missing out on a LOT of really meaningful connections!  These meaningful interactions can take place in person, on the phone and even on social media.  It doesn’t matter what medium you are using to communicate, active listening is the same across the board.  It is about being fully present to receive messages from others so that a true connection can be made.

Active listening requires the choice to tune out all distractions and focus on receiving 100% of the information that is being delivered to you.  The choice to focus with all of your attention on what your child, spouse, business partner, team member, banker or lawyer is telling you is a decision to show respect not just to whoever is speaking but to yourself.

Another aspect of active listening is what I call “positive listening” which means focusing on the positive messages that are being delivered to you.  If you make a choice to not only actively listen to anyone who engages with you, but to remain focused on the positives in each conversation, you will always focus on the solution to any challenge and you will achieve greater results.

What do you do when you choose to participate in positive listening and someone throws negative words and emotions at you?  Listen for the needs that are not being met, ask questions to understand how the person is feeling and seek a solution.  If the person is stuck in a negative mindset, accept that this is where they are and just listen.

There may not always be a positive solution or answer, but there is always the ability to be a positive listener.

The reality of today’s environment is that most of us are so busy multi-tasking our way through the day that we simply have forgotten that we need to be 100% present in our communications.  What would happen if we made a shift toward positive listening?  You guessed it… we would be one step closer to playing our Social A-Game!

 

Each conversation has a purpose.  But, when you have a conversation, are you aware of the goal?  Sometimes the purpose is to tell a story and share an experience.  Sometimes the purpose is to connect or feel validation.  Sometimes a conversation is geared towards getting someone to do something for us.  Whatever the case may be, if you want to be an active listener, you will not know what the purpose of the conversation is or what goal needs to be met unless you are tuned in.  If you are not tuned in, there are bound to be miscommunications and misunderstandings.

If you want to sharpen your active listening skills, start by putting a rubber band around your wrist and wearing it throughout the day.  Every time that you begin  conversation, snap the rubber band against your wrist to signify the beginning of active listening.  From the moment that you snap that rubber band, focus on the words that are being spoken, the feelings that are being conveyed and the desired outcome of the interaction.  Forget about answering the phone, checking what time it is, responding to texts or emails… just LISTEN.

 

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How to Play Your Social A-Game Part 1 #worksmart

September 28, 2012 by 1 Comment

We are social beings.

No matter how you slice it, we were born to socialize. 

However, socializing is not as simple as one might hope and as we find when we have children, it is often a struggle to say the right thing all the time.  It would be nice if no matter what we did or said, everyone loved us and there were no long term repercussions for making mistakes, but in this day and age of social media, we have to be very aware of how we show up online and off, if we want to “win” at the game of life.  Social life, that is.

Hence this series… How to Play Your Social A-Game.

 

 

You may have heard the term, “Bring your A-game” which means to be the best you can be.  Play at top level.  Give it your all.  Bring it, baby!  When I first heard this term, I fell in love with the idea because we should all strive to play our A-game at all times in life.  Why the heck not.  Right?  Go big or go home.  Otherwise, what’s the point?

So, when it comes to playing your Social A-Game, the most important thing is to know what your end goal is and what each short term goal is along the way.  If you want to win, you have to know WHY you want to win or you will never find the right energy to play full on and you will most likely spin your wheels in frustration.

Playing your A-Game is about bringing all of you in full awareness to the plate to take a swing and experience every moment in full presence, every time.  Conversely, if we are mindlessly swinging at the ball with no idea why we even want to hit the ball or where first, second, or third bases are, we will never make a home run.  We will never win the game.  And we will certainly never feel very good about the experience.  It will feel… pointless.

Whether you are actively working the social networks to build brand awareness, if you are attending a conference to network with potential collaborators or if you are simply joining a friend for lunch… bringing your Social A-Game is essential.  Knowing what your goal is and taking steps to achieve it will give you a sense of purpose and accomplishment.  Without a clear grasp of why you are participating in any activity, you will never feel confident or empowered.  You will simply be swinging at the ball in the hopes of doing something great, but not knowing why scoring a run and winning the game will make a difference in your life.

So, are you swinging at the ball with a clear idea of where home plate is or are you aimlessly swinging at each pitch in the hopes of something amazing happening?  Let’s take this conversation to the comments and stay tuned for the rest of this series.

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