Preparing For 2007

Right now we are all in the “hustle and bustle” of the holidays. Next week, we’ll be in what “we entrepreneurs” call our week of reconnect, rediscovery and focus.

On CBS-7 Thursday morning, I shared with you these following tips in crafting your resolutions. Actually, I “buck” the whole resolution thing! Isn’t it always that two weeks into the New Year that we throw those resolutions up in the air and proceed to internally “beat ourselves up” about not moving forward? What a way to start the year?!

So, instead of resolution - think CELEBRATION! A person who is so focused and great at facilitating thoughts towards that “end” is Cheryl Richardson, author of LifeMakeover. I, along with a small group of determined women, have been following the LifeMakeover Program for this past year with remarkable and touching results!

Here’s the thoughts that were shared Thursday morning:

1. List the 25 things you accomplished in 2006.

Note: These do not have to be grand or amazing. There is much we do that we forget to acknowledge ourselves for. Think for a moment how much that inner critic “judges us”. How do you feel when you’re judged? Defensive? Beaten down? Lift yourself up so that you can springboard from a “higher place” and attract success. Celebration what you did right in 2006. It will be exactly the energy needed to attract more good things in your life.

2. Shift to an attitude of gratitude.

I encourage mastermind groups that I coach to write “gratitude journals”. Think of the things either at the end of or at the beginning of the day that you are grateful for. (Greg Morgan, CBS-7 Morning Meteorologist, jokes how difficult a task that is when the alarm clock goes of at 3 a.m.!) So, if you can’t “write it”, then speak it. Say it out loud as you get ready. Or, call your voice mail and leave a message to yourself of the 5 things you’re most grateful for today. Do it at the end of the day. Whatever works for you, put it into action! Being in gratitude will attract to you more things to be grateful for! If you haven’t watched the movie THE SECRET, then make it an action item for January 2007! It WILL change your life.

3. Define what WINNING looks like for you.

Describe this in vivid detail and you’ll bring it into your life. This is a very powerful way to engage the law of attraction and your mind. The mind, when it visualizes something as real, now has the ability to make it real. Whatever you create in your “mind’s eye”, you CAN create in your life. So, what does winning look like for YOU? Define this for you -not for your spouse, not for your children, nor your mom - for you.

Here’s to you and your abundant and attractive 2007!

Coach Maria Elena AKA The Champion of Connections

“Helping You To Toot Your Own Horn Without Blowing It!”

Ask Maria Elena! Groups To Associate With

“Are you seeking people in a group to be the same?” - John

No, however, I do look for people who share some basics to collaboration. It is vital to have these basics for a group “go,” but also for it to “grow.” Confidentiality is key for that. We recently had a meeting in which a small, invited group of people were able to come. It was great training; however, one person who was an invitee of a member decided to “share,” and confidentiality was broken. The member of that group understood the severity of this breach. The invitee did not. However, that’s the reason the “member” is a member and the invitee is not.

Here’s what to look for in a collaborative group:
1. Listening: Are they willing to listen to you? Do you make a difference? Or are you just a “number” crowd?
2. Commitment to Collaborate: Is it about collaboration or a dictatorship?
3. Vision: What’s the vision of the group? Where are they going? Do YOU want to go there?
4. Secure in their Position: Are people in the group secure in their position? Or, are there some autocratic people who are about “my way of the highway?”
5. Detached from the Outcome: Are people willing to give up their own personal attachments to create an outcome that works for the group? Are they too protective of their own goals that they won’t give to the whole?
6. Abundance Mentality versus Scarcity Mentality: Do they believe there’s enough for everyone, or is there only “one pie” and everyone is vying for a piece?
7. Sense of Personal Responsibility: Does everyone have a sense of personal responsibility, or are they just plotting along, waiting for someone to tell them what to do?

However, the most important questions to ask are:
1. What is important to me?
2. What do I need?
3. What do I want?

To your abundance!

Coach Maria Elena, AKA The Champion of Connections
“Helping you toot your own horn without blowing it!”

TheBuzz101: Your Digital Identity

Your digital identity and reputation is just as important as your actual identity and reputation.  As we move into more of a digital world, we see its importance developing everyday.  In fact, when I’m working with my coaching clients and groups, I encourage them to get a website BEFORE they do brochures.  Brochures are more likely to be thrown away, while a website communicates they are current in this business world.

Do you know your digital identity?

Here’s how to check:

1.   Google yourself.  What comes up?  Remember, perception is reality.  If it’s negative, that’s the “reality” out there.  If it’s positive, that’s wonderful.  If it’s non-existent, then YOU are non-existent.  If you are marketing yourself that you are “the best” or, even as an executive, that you are the leader, then your googling needs to bring up that you are “it”.  If you no show, then you don’t know!

2.   Register in Google Ad Watch.  That way, anytime your name comes up, it emails you a notice.  Keeping track of your digital identity is key.  It will help you know if there’s digital good or digital dirt out there.

To your success!

Coach Maria Elena, AKA The Champion of Connections

“Helping you toot your own horn without blowing it!”

Buzz2Bucks: Get A Coach

This was shared from Nick Miller, author of The Weekly Sales Thought.

It’s short and sweet this week.  For 2007, get a coach.  Plan your territory, sharpen your value proposition, and get a coach.

About a month ago, a senior sales leader friend wrote to me asking “what’s with the fear many sales people have about going to a sales coach and asking for help?”

Perhaps it’s the same reasons men won’t stop the car and ask for directions.  We’re adults and we can figure this out, yes?  Embarrassment, maybe?  Shame?  Laziness?  Pride?  Inertia?  Insufficient belly fire?  Lousy leads – everything would get better if the leads were better?

Or maybe, it’s reality. That part of life that’s still with us even when we stop believing in it or when we wish it would go away.  It’s that same reality Woody Allen wrote about – “She hated reality but realized it was still the only place to get a good steak.” That reality.  When we’re coached, we stare our steak reality in the face.

I like former football coach Tom Landry’s definition of a coach:

“A coach is someone who tells you what you don’t want to hear, who has you see what you don’t want to see, so you can be who you have always known you could be.”

And the reason we need somebody as THAT kind of a coach is because most of us can’t check our own reality objectively, just like most surgeons can’t perform surgery on themselves.  You can’t coach yourself.

Who should you choose?  Maybe your manager could play that role for you.  Maybe you need someone else, in addition or instead of who you’ve selected to perform the role of “coach”.  Maybe you might even have to pay them!

Hang on…I need to get out and ask for directions.
© Clarity Advantage Corporation, 2006. All rights reserved

Happy planning for 2007!
Coach Maria Elena, AKA The Champion of Connections

“Helping you toot your own horn without blowing it!”

Mastermind Moment: The Harm of Harmony

“There is great harm in always wanting to create harmony.” – Maria-ism

“Can’t we all just get along” or “let’s all work in harmony” are dangerous myths that are passed along as sound advice in any organization or team effort. There is a reason that “harm” is the root word in the word harmony.

Does that mean that musical harmony doesn’t sound good or pleasing to the ear?    For more on this CEO mastermind moment visit The Coffee House Coach!

Coach Maria Elena, AKA The Champion of Connections
“Helping you toot your own horn without blowing it!”

Ask Maria Elena! About Business Cards

“Is a holiday get together the time to start dishing out the business cards?” - Krista

Krista, this is NOT the time. The most important activity you can participate in at a holiday gathering is LISTENING. There is a reason we have “two ears & one mouth”. It is directly proportional to the ratio of how much we need be talking and how much we need to be listening.

This is also not the time to play the NUMBERS game. It is not how many “cards” you gather. It is about how many QUALITY connections you make. And, you can only do that by listening and investing time with people. You cannot MICROWAVE relationships!

Better than dishing out cards - spend time in meaningful conversation with 3 to 5 people at the event. Then, get THEIR cards so that you know how to connect with them later. May be there’s a need that they have that you can help them out with or can refer them to someone. Possibly, they would be a good connection so you’ll meet again and continue this conversation at another time. The most important thing is to get their card. The fortune is in the follow up and you cannot follow up if you do not know how to contact them.

Caution - do not be the networking monger. That’s the person who CORNERS you at a holiday event and won’t let you go until you agree you’ll meet with them at another time; till you’re coerced into taking their phone call; or till you “give in” and say that you’ll introduce them to the head of purchasing. If you do any of these things, you won’t need to GET business cards or even GIVE business cards. As Jeff Foxworthy would say, “here’s your sign!” And, it’s lit up like a neon light above your head for the entire gathering to see.

A couple other things on Business Card etiquette:

1. Never put business cards in birthday cards - that’s considered rude!

2. Never give a dirty or written on business card. Remember, first impressions! If you don’t have a good, clean, professional card with you, then AT LEAST get their card. You can always mail them one later and it will help keep you “connected”. Remember, it is more important to get the info on HOW to stay in touch with them.

To your abundance -

Coach Maria Elena a/k/a THE Champion of Connections

Helping You To Toot Your Own Horn Without Blowing It!

TheBuzz101: Life Long Learner

Being a “life long learner” creates buzz instantly. Why? Because people like to know people “in the know”; who are on the “cutting edge”; and who are “movers and shakers”. Is someone who KNOWS IT ALL like that? How many KNOW IT ALLS do you know? How would you describe them? Have you ever heard any one say “I’ve been doing this for 20+ years and this is the way I do it and I don’t need to learn any other way”? Watch out! That is someone in danger of being a KNOW IT ALL. Who - I mean it who really wants to be around a KNOW IT ALL?

We don’t want to be around a KNOW IT ALL - know why? Because a KNOW IT ALL has “judged” that you don’t know it all and they do. How do you F-E-E-L when someone judges you? These words spoke volumes to me, just yesterday, at a wonderful little quiet gathering of about 32 movers and shakers in the Permian Basin. This quiet little gathering of leaders spent the afternoon with Mac Fulfer, the Amazing Face Reader, and now there are 32 West Texans “reading faces”!

Be sure to read the book and ask me if you want to know more. It was AMAZING!

Coach Maria Elena a/k/a THE Champion of Connections

Helping You To Toot Your Own Horn Without Blowing It!

Buzz2Bucks: SOAR Not SWOT

At the end of every year, I spend time in reflection over how the year went. What did I like this past year? What do I want more of? What would I change? In part of this review, I’m going through a 360 brand process.

My brand attributes are that I’m community oriented, connected, entrepreneurial, cheerful, passionate and communicative. It is no wonder then, that as we close the door on 2006, that I favor helping people SOAR as opposed to SWOTing them down.

SOAR is an acronym for Strengths; Opportunities; Aspirations and Results. Much more “cheerful and communicative” then the SWOT which stands for Strengths; Weaknesses; Opportunities; and Threats. If you have seen the movie “The Secret” then you are familiar with the fact that “whatever you focus on you create”. So, if, like in the SWOT, I spend half of my time thinking of the things that are my “weaknesses” and those things that are “threats”, am I not putting creative manifestation energy into bringing those things into fruition?

The SOAR was developed by the Appreciative Inquiry group and I could tell from that name that we matched. What keeps me positive and community oriented, is the “attitude of gratitude”. The Appreciative Inquiry group developed the SOAR analysis with the belief that whatever you are thankful for you get more of!

For you, my hope is to help you SOAR! It is not in my wishes, nor my nature, to SWOT anyone down. That is why this whole 360 branding experience has been “educational” because a part of the analysis is a SWOT analysis and when given the opportunity to SWOT at someone - many people take it. I suppose SWOTing is the “nature of the beast.”

Want to make a remarkable impression on someone who means something to you? Help them SOAR. When they ask you what areas they need to focus on or advice - analyze this opportunity with SOAR.

• What is their STRENGTH?
• What OPPORTUNITIES abound that would help them gain whatever they deem as their own personal definition of success?
• What are their ASPIRATIONS? What does winning look like to them?
• And what RESULTS would make their life complete?

We all have weaknesses, I suppose. But, what sense is there is focusing ANY time on them? Do you really want to get better at what you’re weak at so that you can invest time, energy and money to, at best, be mediocre at that item (since that’s not your real calling). Or, would it be best to focus on your “true genius” and be the best at that and recruit or partner with those who are STRONG at what you’re WEAK at.

A very, good and dear banker friend of mine is Jim. No matter how many times he’s been given the opportunity to discuss my weaknesses - he NEVER once takes the shot. Not once. When asked what’s my weak area - he naturally goes back and provides a SOAR analysis. Now, “lifting people up” and “encouraging excellence” - that’s HIS brand.

What’s your brand?

Coach Maria Elena a/k/a THE Champion of Connections

Helping You Toot Your Own Horn Without Blowing It!

Mastermind Moment: The Fallacy of Focus

“When you look through your own window of experience and judge others by that window, you have assumed that you match them completely.” - Maria”ism”

fal·la·cy

n. pl. fal·la·cies

1. A false notion.

2. A statement or an argument based on a false or invalid inference.

3. Incorrectness of reasoning or belief; erroneousness.

4. The quality of being deceptive.

For more on this Mastermind Moment, visit The Coffee House Coach, to continue on this conversations with CEOs.

Ask Maria Elena! Press Releases

“What would you recommend in putting together press releases?” - Mary

There is a format to press releases that will either communicate professionalism or make someone say “NEXT release”.

Here are some key components:

1. No more than one page long. If you can’t “sell” it in a page. don’t bother.

2. Use the inverted pyramid style of writing which means put all the important info in the first paragraph. Gabrielle Natale, with Univision, says it best when she says “think like a reporter”. If you had to cut, you would cut everything except the first paragraph. Make sure your first paragraph has everything it needs like: why is this important or newsworthy; when is it?; where is it? what time is it?; and who is it for?

3. Have a contact person there along with their contact info that can really be contacted FAST! If you make it easy for the media to do their story, if you help “connect the dots” for them, they are more likely to use your expertise and your story.

• Provide them a REAL PHONE number where they can connect with you. If you are unavailable to take calls, make sure there is voice mail capacity at that number so they can leave their contact info and you can return their call as soon as possible.
• Provide an email address. However, this is where the EXPERTS are separated from THE PRETEND EXPERTS! If you have an email address that is info@greatbusiness.com, there is a great chance you will be passed over because “info” is a general mailbox and the media is “on the move”! They do not have time for general mailboxes. They want to connect with someone in the know immediately. Also, invest in your professionalism! If your email address is MSN.com; hotmail.com; yahoo.com, gmail.com; you are considered a PRETEND EXPERT. Invest in an email address with your name or your business name in it (i.e. coach@buzz2bucks.com)
• Tie it to the community for them. So, what if you were recently promoted?! What does that mean to the community?

For answers to more of your ATTRACTION BRANDING questions, visit www.askmariaelena.com

Coach Maria Elena a/k/a THE Champion of Connections

Coach Maria Elena is an author, award winning speaker and a minority leader

helping businesses and individuals “toot their own horn without blowing it”

through her ATTRACTION BRAND© Coaching.