HELLO, my name is BLOG!

Not the yen.
Not the dollar.
Not the deutschemark.

Today we’re talking about the metaphorical form of currency.

Consider two facts:

1. Currency is the transmitting of something, especially money from person to person.
2. Currency is just another word for “return.”

THEREFORE: You need to know ahead of time, prior to engaging in any new project, marketing effort or activity, “What’s my currency?”

In other words, “Why the heck am I doing this?”

Because if you don’t...

You won’t know when you’ve succeeded.
You won’t know what to keep, stop or start in the future.
You won’t know the lowest common denominator of your actions.

SO, ASK YOURSELF: “What would have to happen to make me feel like I’ve achieved a Return on Investment from this new endeavor?”

Take online social networking, for example.

Too many companies and businesspeople hesitate to get involved with this trend because they think it’s a fad. That it will just fade away like mini-discs, pogs and Ricky Martin.

BIG mistake.

Online social networking ain’t goin’ nowhere! It’s the future of the Internet, the future of the world!

And the reasons (excuses) people give for not getting involved in social networking are:

1. They don’t have the time.
2. They don’t see the payoff, aka, currency.

Well, remember this:

You WILL have the time...

...when-you-first-understand-your-currency!!

For online social networking, potential currency could be:

o Expanding your network
o Driving traffic
o Filtering in new leads
o Developing, storing content
o Branding and marketing
o Making money
o Projecting transparency
o Building community

Here's an example.

I never thought blogging was worth it. For about a year, I didn't see any return, any "currency" from my daily posting.

Then, on August 31st, 2005, I wrote a post that would lead to over $100,000 of new business.

If that happened to you, would YOU make time to blog every morning?

You bet.

So whether it’s online social networking, initiating a new marketing plan, attending a conference or deciding to publish a book, understand this:

It might take six to twelve months before you actually see your currency come to fruition. Heck, that’s the “I” in Return on Investment!

So, be honest with yourself and your business. Find out if you’re willing to pay the price.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
What’s your currency?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
Share your best currency success story here!

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

Are you the luckiest person you know?

Watch Scott's interview on 20/20!

add to del.icio.us * digg it! * email this post

Labels: approachability 2.0, keep it alive, totally random stuff

[click to continue...]

PICTURE THIS: you walk into Borders on a Sunday afternoon. You head over to the business section to pick up the latest book on leadership.

Flipping through, you see nothing remarkable … yet.

So you keep flipping. And flipping. And flipping. Frustratingly hoping to come across a poignant sentence, a cool graph or an astonishing picture to use in tomorrow’s staff meeting.

But to no avail.

About seven minutes go by. You reach the appendix of the book, having found nothing that stood out.

Well, back to the shelf this goes! You think.

And then.

Then something else catches your eye.

“Hmm. What’s this…?” you say.

You grab a different book. You lean up against the shelf and randomly open it to page 147.

And within three seconds, you’re smiling. Nodding and affirming and pointing out a piece of leadership advice that’s SO relevant (and SO SIMPLE), you say to yourself, “Wow. That’s goooood! I’m buying this book for my boss!”

So you do.

And it only took … what? A few seconds?

LESSON LEARNED: the longer they take, the less they buy.

In Doug Hall’s (amazing) Jumpstart Your Brain, he shares several brilliant observations on this very topic.

Based on his extensive research with Proctor & Gamble’s retail division, Doug learned three things:

1. Complexity generates contemplation. You lose when your customer has to contemplate your idea. In the process of contemplating, customers start looking at other options.

2. Get them early. If it takes more than ten seconds to explain or grasp, it’s probably not a wicked good idea.

3. Simple ideas are self-evident. And self-evident products make you want to pick them up when you see the name and the front of the package. No additional communication required.

It’s kind of like the end of Jerry Maguire.

Tom Cruise barges into Rene Zelwegger’s house to profess his love for her. He rambles on and on about how she “completes” him. Everyone in the audience is sobbing.

Eventually, she interrupts his monologue and says, “You had me at hello.”

You had me at hello.

That’s exactly what you need to do.

You need to have them at hello.

Because if you don’t, every second that passes decreases the probability of a sale.

The sale of...

Your idea.
Your self.
Your service.
Your product.

LESSON LEARNED: if you don’t have them at hello, it’s already too late.

Because the longer they take, the less they buy.

HERE’S HOW I KNOW THIS: I’ve been wearing a nametag 24-7 for the past 2,431 days.

I do it to make people friendlier. That’s it!

And I’ve probably explained this idea to well over 100,000 people.

Now, according to seven years of non-scientific, empirical data, approximately 10% of the people I encounter will think I’m out of my damn mind.

(Which is true.)

But these people just don’t (and won’t) get it.

They require me to cite scientific data.
They ask me to explain my philosophy over and over.
They argue relentlessly about the validitiy of wearing a nametag.

(And all the while I'm thinking: dude, it's not that complicated. Nametags = friendlier people)

Which makes me realize something: these people will NEVER, at any point, accept, like or embrace my idea.

Because I never had them at hello.

See, first impressions are based on instinct and emotion. And because they tend to be correct, the first impressions people form about you will probably stay in their minds forever.

After all, people put pressure on themselves to behave consistently with their own existing commitments.

This is known as the primacy effect. Meaning, the information people see or learn about you is more powerful than what is learned later.

IN SHORT: if it takes too long for someone to “get” you (or your idea or your product), they’re probably not going to buy into it. Ever.

The longer they take, the less they buy.

Also, here’s something else I’ve noticed after 2,430 days:

90% of the people I encounter, only SECONDS after hearing that I choose to wear a nametag all the time, will say to me, “That’s the coolest idea I’ve ever heard!”

And they not only embrace the idea, but usually tell at least 10 people about it.

Because I had them at hello.

And it took … what? Three seconds?

Right. Because if the longer they take, the less they buy; then the SHORTER they take, they MORE they buy!

OK. So, here’s what this means for you:

1. KEEP it simple. Say ONE thing. Assure that your ideas; products, services and marketing materials are self-evident. That they need no further communication. That people “get” your stuff right away.

2. MAKE it easy. Ever read a business book without boldface, underlines, italics, font changes or pictures? It’s a pain in the butt! See, few authors understand the value of architecture in writing. So, even if you don’t write books, remember: make it easy. Punch people in the face with what they need to see, hear and know about your business right away.

3. TOUCH it up. If you find that it’s taking too long to convince people, don’t worry! This is your opportunity to tweak your idea, sales pitch or product. Brainstorm several approaches and practice them on friends. If you "get them at hello," you’re on the right track. Super easy litmus test.

Ultimately, what we're talking about is a first impression.

Of you.
Of your ideas.
Of your business.

SO REMEMBER: complexity generates contemplation; and contemplation kills sales.

Get them at hello.

Because they longer they take, the less they buy.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
Do you have people at hello?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
Share an example of someone who had YOU at hello with THEIR business idea.

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

Are you the luckiest person you know?

Watch Scott's interview on 20/20!

add to del.icio.us * digg it! * email this post

Labels: don't sell - enable people to buy, get them to come to you, how to be that guy, melon motivating, people buy people first, stick yourself out there, unforgettable first impressions

[click to continue...]

PICTURE THIS: You meet someone at a networking event. He’s friendly, approachable, asks great questions; even introduces you to a few his colleagues.

After the event you exchange business cards.

A few days later he follows up with a quick email, thanking you for coming. He also offers an open-ended invitation to a future lunch to brainstorm and get to know each other better.

Wow!

Still, in the back of your mind, you can’t help but wonder, “Why is he being so nice to me?”

Does he have ulterior motives?
Does he want to sell me something?
Does he think I’m going to become his best friend?

Oris he just nice to everyone?

All of these are possibilities. And it’s human nature to be suspicious of people’s motives. Especially when it appears someone has no apparent reason to be so “nice” to you.

PERFECT EXAMPLE: ever since my 20/20 piece, I've been getting SWAMPED with phone calls and emails.

Most are from people who are just nice.

Many are from people who are nice AND want to connect.

However, some are from people are very nice ... who want me to become part of their downline. Or read their business proposal. Or buy their products and services.

Yeah.

So, based on my experience of wearing a nametag 24-7 for the past 2,430 days, I believe there are three levels of niceness:

1. ULTERIOR MOTIVES: they seek sales, referrals, joining their organization, becoming a part of their MLM company.

2, ANCILLARY MOTIVES: they seek to develop and maintain mutually valuable relationships. “Who knows?” they think, “Maybe somewhere down the line we’ll be able to help each other!”

3. ZERO MOTIVES: they seek to be nice for the sake of being nice. No scorekeeping. No objective. Just being nice.

The challenge is, the word “nice” is a toughie. And there’s a paradox of meaning when you research the word’s origin.

By definition, the word nice means, “Pleasing and agreeable in nature,” “Having a pleasant or attractive appearance,” “Exhibiting courtesy and politeness,” and “Of good character and reputation; respectable.”

Conversely, the Latin derivative for nice is nescius, or "ignorant.”

Interesting.

No wonder “nice” is so misunderstood!

Still, when it comes to approachability, it’s important to see the value in all three types of conversation levels. None are better than the other; they just serve different purposes.

So, next time someone's "nice" actions appear suspicious; and you ask yourself, “Why are they being so nice to me?” remember these three variations of niceness before you write someone off.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
Why are some people so nice?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
Share your best "Why are you being so nice to me?" story here!

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

Are you the luckiest person you know?

Watch Scott's interview on 20/20!

add to del.icio.us * digg it! * email this post

Labels: consistency, conversation, keep it alive, networking superhero

[click to continue...]

Your customers are tired.

Tired of terrible service.
Tired of getting the run around.
Tired of waiting in lines all morning.

Most importantly, they’re tired of hearing excuses.

THE GOOD NEWS: there IS a way to offer more approachable service!

Here is a list of eight phrases (er, excuses) your customers don’t want to hear; AND, several alternative phrases that payses you can use instead.

1. “I’m sorry.”

Sorry is negative.
Sorry is problem-oriented.
Sorry is usually followed by excuses.
Sorry is focused on the wrong person.
Sorry is sucks the positivity out of a conversation.

Now, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t over-apologize. Instead, consider framing your response differently.

PHRASES THAT PAYSES
“Thanks for telling me.”
“Thanks for bringing that to my attention.”
“That’s horrible!”
“I have no excuse. You’re right.”
“I apologize.”

2. “That’s not my job.”

Too many front line employees evade personal responsibility and professional accountability.

REMEMBER: part of your job is to reassure the customers.

That you’re on it.
That you’re taking ownership of the problem.
That you’re going to find a solution; even it’s not your job.

PHRASES THAT PAYSES
“I will personally take care of that.”
“I will take ownership of this problem.”
“And for future reference, the person who usually handles that problem is…”

3. “There’s nothing I can do,” or “I can’t.”

Negative language! No good.

Focus instead on what you CAN do. On solutions; not problems.

REMEMBER: there’s always something you can do; even if it simply means finding the right person to help.

PHRASES THAT PAYSES
“Good news!”
“You’re in luck!”
“Here’s what I CAN do.”
“Today’s your lucky day!”
“The best way for me to help you RIGHT NOW is…”

4. “I don’t know.”

That’s OK. You can’t know everything!

Still, you want to reassure your customer. So, remember to first lay a positive foundation and then reassure the customer that her problem will be addressed.

PHRASES THAT PAYSES
“Let me find out for you.”
“Let me look that up for you.”
“Good question! I’m not exactly sure, so let me ask someone who DOES know.”

5. “Our policy is…”

The mere mention of the word “policy” sends a chill down customers’ spines.

So, try shifting your verbiage to something more approachable.

PHRASES THAT PAYSES
“Our guidelines are…”
“In order to be fair to everybody.”
"Let me make an exception for you."

6. “You’ll have to call someone else.”

This is called Punting. Passing the Buck. Evading Responsibility.

And customers are tired of it.

So, even if it’s not your job or area of expertise, you can still be of assistance.

PHRASES THAT PAYSES
“Here’s who you CAN call…”
“Let me connect you with George, he has the answer to your problem!”

7. “He’s not here.”

Especially if your goal is to achieve first call resolution, avoid this phrase!

Who knows? Maybe you can answer the question for a coworker who isn’t available.

Remember: we live in a fast-paced, hyperspeed, A.D.D culture. Customers want answers NOW!

PHRASES THAT PAYSES
“Steve’s unavailable right now, but MY name is Karen; is there anything I can do to help?”
“Steve’s out of the office right now, but is there a question I might be able to answer?”

8. “As soon as possible.”

ASAP. When I get a chance. When I get around to it.

All of these phrases make customers think, “Yeah right!”

You need to emit a sense of urgency, confidence and reassurance. Try these:

PHRASES THAT PAYSES
“Right away.”
“Immediately.”
“Give me fifteen seconds.”

NOTE: for a free, dowloadable copy of my ebook, 117 Phrases That Payses, go to www.hellomynameisscott.com, login if you're a first-time friend, then scroll down to the "Free Ebooks" section.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
What other phrases do customers (not) want to hear?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
Post your alternative phrases that payses here!

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

Are you the luckiest person you know?

Watch Scott's interview on 20/20!

add to del.icio.us * digg it! * email this post

Labels: approachable service, ebooks, phrases that payses, really long lists, unforgettable first impressions

[click to continue...]

(To watch a video of The Giant Nametag, click here!)

Self-promotion gets a bad wrap.

In fact, it’s almost impossible to talk about the topic of self-promotion without mentioning the word “shameless.”

Which, according to my thesaurus, is another word for “audacious, brash, dirty, immoral, improper, presumptuous and rude.”

Yikes! No wonder people are so hesitant when it comes to tooting their own horns … they’re afraid!

Afraid of being rejected.
Afraid of appearing boastful.
Afraid that they’re bragging.
Afraid of sticking themselves out there.

BUT, HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS: self-promotion doesn’t have to be shameless.

See, our teachers, parents and mentors tell us (er, brainwash us) that self-promotion is bad form.

Not true.

Self-promotion can be a beautiful thing … when done gracefully.

THINK OF IT THIS WAY: you sit down at a dinner table with seven strangers.

Somebody brings up the topic of children.

“Ooh! Look at these pictures! My daughter just graduated from Kindergarten. Isn’t she just the cutest thing you’ve ever seen? Oh, and she got all A’s and the teacher LOVES her and all the other students in class think she’s the smartest kid in the whole school!"

Self-promotion?

Absolutely.

Shameless?

Heck no!

It’s passionate. It’s loving. It’s fun. It’s engaging. It’s authentic.

And you don't see it as “selling” your kids to the person next to you.

You’re merely transferring your love.

And THAT is what self-promotion TRULY is: a transference of emotion.

Here’s another example.

At a recent Book Expo in New York City, I spent three days walking around the convention center wearing a giant nametag.

Smiling. Waving. Making friends. Giving away free books. Having fun.

Transferring the emotion of approachability.

Now, sure, I was promoting my new book.

But I didn’t lead with that. I led with passion and love and authenticity.

And the word shameless wasn’t even a consideration.

Interestingly, halfway through the conference, a woman approached me with a big smile on her face and asked why I was wearing this huge nametag.

So I told her.

It turned out she was a reporter for the Christian Science Monitor Her assignment was to interview someone for an upcoming article on self-promotion.

Nice.

We ended up sitting down on the stairs for the next 30 minutes for an impromtu interview!

So, if you want to take the “shameless” out of self-promotion, remember two things:

1. Don’t let your past fears stand in the way.
2. Don’t sell - transfer your love. Enable people to buy.

Because if you don’t make a name for yourself, someone will make one for you.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
Does self-promotion have to be shameless?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
Share your hypotheses why people are afraid to toot their own horns here!

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

Are you the luckiest person you know?

Watch Scott's interview on 20/20!

add to del.icio.us * digg it! * email this post

Labels: get them to come to you, how to be that guy, stick yourself out there, strategic serendipity

[click to continue...]

Sales calls.
Employee meetings.
Interviews with candidates.
Phone calls with the media.

Do you want to appear more approachable these type of situations?

Cool! Then, just remember three important words:

Ask; don’t tell.

Here’s why:

People don’t like to be told what to do.
People will remember something if they say it.
People will believe something if they say it.
People will learn something if they say it.

It brings to mind the words of Aristotle, who once said, “He who persuades me with my own words is the best.”

Ask; don’t tell.

Next, let’s explore the core differences between these two actions:

1. WHAT THEY ARE...

ASKING is curious.
TELLING is judgmental.

ASKING is generative language.
TELLING is retrospective language

ASKING is engaging.
TELLING is one-sided.

2. WHAT THEY LEAD TO...

ASKING leads to goals.
TELLING leads to controls.

ASKING leads to listening.
TELLING leads to talking.

ASKING leads to dialogue.
TELLING leads to defensive responses.

ASKING leads to positive framing of a conversation.
TELLING leads to negative framing of a conversation.

3. WHAT THEY DO...

ASKING shows that you trust others to develop their own answers.
TELLING shows that your answers are the only ones of importance.

ASKING uncovers information that helps you present your ideas in a highly customized manner.
TELLING overlooks information and assumes you already know what somebody needs.

OK. Let’s review:

You understand the value of asking, not telling.

You understand the difference between asking and telling.

Now it’s time to heighten the approachability of your language

Here are several examples of how to ASK instead of TELL:

1. DON’T SAY, “You should sit down and think about…”
DO ASK, “Have you ever thought about…?”

2. DON’T SAY, “I’m upset with you because…”
DO ASK, “Do you know why I’m upset with you?”

3. DON’T SAY, “You screwed up because…”
DO ASK, “Do you know where you went wrong?”

4. DON’T SAY, “Here’s why you need my product…”
DO ASK, “What are your biggest challenges with…?”

5. DON’T SAY, “Your viewers would love…”
DO ASK, “What are the major concerns of…?”

6. DON’T SAY, “I can’t believe you did that!”
DO ASK, “Is that what you were expecting to happen?”

7. DON’T SAY, “You should have been more successful!”
DO SAY, “What else would need to happen for you to accomplish your goal?”

Ask; don’t tell.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
Do you ask more or tell more?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
Think of the last time you had greater success asking, not telling. Share your story here!

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

Are you the luckiest person you know?

Watch Scott's interview on 20/20!

add to del.icio.us * digg it! * email this post

Labels: approachable service, commitment, consistency, don't sell - enable people to buy, phrases that payses

[click to continue...]

“We learn not from our experiences, but from intelligent reflection upon those experiences.”

My mentor, William Jenkins, taught me that when I was 17.

I never forgot it.

AND THE BEST PART IS: over a decade later, his philosophy still holds true.

See, I make a living writing and speaking about my experiences of wearing a nametag every day.

A nametag!

And I don’t have a master’s degree. I don’t have a PhD. Nor I don’t have any scientific data to back up my knowledge.

But I DO have thousands of experiences.

Which means it’s all empirical. It’s all experiential.

And sometimes, that’s the best teacher of all.

However.

When it comes to experiential knowledge, there are two categories of people:

1. Those people who simply HAVE experiences.

2. The people who (not only) have experiences; but reflect upon them, figure out WHY they happened and then WRITE DOWN the lessons they learned.

Sadly, too many people find themselves in the first category.

Here’s a list of four actions you can take TODAY to become an expert at learning from your experiences:

1. Prepare yourself. Every day, every moment, every experience, you need to be open and prepared to learn. Embrace the irrelevant! Cherish the mundane! No matter how miniscule or seemingly unimportant, you must maintain an attitude of continuous improvement in all situations an encounters with others.

SAY TO YOURSELF: “This is going to be great! I can’t wait to see what I learn from this experience…”

2. Listen. For the clues, tips, ideas, take-aways and life lessons learned. Pluck them as they occur. Keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities. Watch out for things to say YES to. Those are the biggies.

SAY TO YOURSELF: “Oh. So, THAT’S why that happened to me! Got it.”

3. Write it down. When you’ve finished an experience, sit down and force yourself to make a list of the stuff you just learned. This is a must! Because writing is the basis of all wealth. Because that which goes unrecorded goes unmemorable. And because if you don’t write it down, it never happened.

SAY TO YOURSELF: “Alright, what lessons could I learn from what JUST happened to me?”

4. Reflect & Revise. Go back through your notes. Think back about what (else) you learned since writing down the original lessons.

SAY TO YOURSELF: “What else (over time) happened as a result of that experience? And what can I learn from that?”

Ultimately, if you consistently practice these four keys to experiential learning, you’ll get to know yourself better AND exponentially increase your learning curve.

Because you learn not from your experiences, but from intelligent reflection upon those experiences.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
Are you an expert at learning from your experiences?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
Pick something that happened to you last week. Post three things you learned from that experience here!

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

Are you the luckiest person you know?

Watch Scott's interview on 20/20!

add to del.icio.us * digg it! * email this post

Labels: writing is the basis of all wealth

[click to continue...]

"Hey Scott, how do you get 35,000 hits a day on your website?" I'm often asked.

Google Adwords?
Sponsored links?
Pay per click?
Search engine optimization?

Maybe.

Still, I think the BEST answer is one powerful word: content.

Because content is KING.

And it comes in many forms:

o Articles
o Blog posts
o Pictures
o Videos
o Testimonials
o Profiles
o Lists
o Downloadable ebooks
o PowerPoint slides
o PDF’s and other documents
o Evaluations, tests and assessments
o Podcasts, either video or audio
o Message boards
o Comments and notes left by page visitors
o Any other form of value-added substance that a visitor to the web page would benefit from.

Content is king.

And here’s why:

1. It leads to sales.
2. It gives value first.
3. It helps sell product.
4. It forces you to write.
5. It shows thought leadership.
6. It shows you doing what you do
7. It boosts search engine rankings.
8. It gives social proof of your value.
9. It gets the media to come to YOU.
10. It support and enhances expertise.
11. It adds depth and value to your website.
12. It contributes to your company’s positive reputation.
13. It offers multiple forms of media to convey your message.
14. It keeps your website current, which creates return traffic.
15. It creates a web PRESENCE, since just having a web SITE is no longer enough.
16. It gives away free information; and the more you give away for free, the wealthier you will be.

Content is king.

And if you haven’t already been convinced, here are a few more reasons:

1. Content drives action.
2. Content replaces selling.
3. Content replaces agents.
4. Content replaces pitching.
5. Content drives transactions.
6. Content replaces advertising.
7. Content replaces cold calling.
8. Content pulls instead of pushes.

Content is king.

So, now that you’ve realized the power of content, remember a few final tips:

1. Make content interactive. Can people comment on your stuff?
2. Encourage viral marketing. Can people (easily) share your content with their friends?
3. Link content directly into the sales cycle. At the end of your articles, do you have a call to action? Something that brings the reader over to your site?
4. Make content the focus of your site. When someone arrives at your site, is there a login that grants her full access to your online library?
5. Make your content answer your customers’ problems. Are you asking your target market what topics they want content about?

Content is king.

Speaking of content, for FULL ACCESS to my entire online libray (over 700 pages of content), become a member of The Nametag Network!

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
Do you have enough content?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
Email scott@hellomynameisscott.com with your best piece of original content. I'll share your resources on a future post!

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

Are you the luckiest person you know?

Watch Scott's interview on 20/20!

add to del.icio.us * digg it! * email this post

Labels: approachability 2.0, get them to come to you, melon motivating, stick yourself out there, writing is the basis of all wealth

[click to continue...]

The origin of the term “thought leader” goes back a few years.

Joel Kurtzman, editor-in-chief of Strategy & Business magazine, first coined the expression in 1994.

According to Wikipedia, the term was used to designate interview subjects for that magazine who had contributed new thoughts to business.

Since that time, the term has spread from business to other disciplines and has come to mean “someone who enlivens old processes with new ideas.”

AND, HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS: you CAN become one too!

But.

HERE’S THE BAD NEWS: the media, the blogosphere and the business world seem to be debating the validity of this term.

That it’s overused.
That it’s contrived.
That it’s meaningless.

Probably because people just LOVE to throw around expressions like this.

For example, author/blogger Brian Carroll from Lead Generation Blog says, “First of all, thought leaders don't refer to themselves as thought leaders. Thought leadership is an outside assessment based on what others say about you, not what YOU say about you.”

However, Carroll still defends the expression. “I rather like it,” he says, “even thought some people abuse it as a hollow form of self-promotion.”

Personally, I think the idea of being a thought leader is cool.

Not that you should go around telling people, “Hey, look at me! I’m a thought leader!”

That might sound kind of pretentious.

So, maybe it’s better as a frame of mind.

An attitude.
A way of doing business.
A way of treating people.

Controversies aside, here’s the bottom line about thought leadership:

If you do it respectfully, authentically, intelligently and uniquely, you will get people to come to you.

Actually, wait a sec. I’m wrong.

I shouldn’t have said, “DO it.”

I should have said, “LIVE it.”

Because being a thought leader isn’t something you DO.

Being a thought leader is something you ARE.

Approachability?
Being That Guy?
Making a name for yourself?

Being a thought leader is a HUGE part of that.

Because it’s another way of sticking yourself out there.

So, if you think you’re up to the challenge (and yes, it IS challenging) consider these 17 strategies for becoming a thought leader:

1. Pay the price. You won’t become a thought leader overnight. Which doesn’t mean that it takes lots of physical time; but it DOES take experience. Get it any way you can. For example, check out this list called 38 Ways to Speed Up Your Learning Curve.

2. Learn well. Become an expert at learning from your experiences. After all, people don’t care what you know. They don’t care what you did. They only care what you LEARNED. And, how those lessons can help them become better.

3. Write, write and write. Did I say write? Writing is the basis of all wealth. If you’re not capturing your thoughts, ideas, experiences, stories, advice and insights, forget all about this whole thought leader thing. Get a blog and get on www.ezinearticles.com. Today.

4. Read everything. When I first starting giving speeches and writing books, my mentor told me, “You have no right to write or speak about any topic unless you’ve read every book ever written on that topic.” Also, DeBono said, “The thinker should be able to look at the thinking used by other people or used in general about a particular subject. Looking at the thinking of others does not mean doing so with the aim of criticizing or attacking it. The intention is to watch what thinking is being applied.” What about you? Have you read everything else?

5. Read more. Also seek out books such as The Obvious Expert, Thinking for a Change and How to be a Thought Leader. Great advice and easy to read.

6. Read even more. Lastly, read books about lateral thinking and creativity (ahem, DeBono). Explore biographies about the world’s greatest thinkers, i.e., Einstein and da Vinci.

7. Hang with other thought leaders. Start a mastermind group, thinking club or online discussion with other thought leaders. Pick brains often. Stop hanging around people who don’t think thinking is cool.

8. Speak. At every club, meeting, tradeshow, conference, chamber, rotary and street corner you can find. If they pay, great. If not, no biggie. Either way, you need to be fun, fun-ny, informative and entertaining. Talk about ONE THING, and have a little laminated double-sided philosophy card as your handout.

9. Philosophy. Ask yourself this question: “If everybody did EXACTLY what I said, what would the world look like?” You answer(s) = your philosophy. Shout it from the rooftops. Be known for it.

10. Reinvent the wheel. Figure out what everybody else is saying about your area of expertise. Then figure out YOUR unique perspective, spin, paradigm, etc. Find the hole that nobody sees and fill it with your unique expertise. (Hey, wait! That last sentence TOTALLY rhymed. Sweet. I’m writing that one down.)

11. Become a CONFIDENT thinker. In the book A Thinking Course, Edward DeBono said, “A thinker should be able to turn on his thinking at will. A thinker should be able to direct his thinking to any subject or any aspect of a subject. A confident thinker does not have to prove himself right and the other person wrong. Thinking is an operating skill, not an ego-achievement. A confident thinker is willing to set out to think about something." Wow. Talk about a thought leader! WHAT ABOUT YOU: can you speak on your expertise ... forever?

12. Content is king. Content drives action. Content replaces selling. Content replaces agents. Content replaces pitching. Content drives transactions. Content replaces advertising. Content replaces cold calling. Content pulls instead of pushes. (Read 16 more reasons why content is king!)

13. Become a media darling. Build relationships with local (and hopefully, national!) press. Offer yourself as a resource and expert. Send them business cards ALREADY stapled to a Rolodex card. Make yourself easily available. REMEMBER: the media is your customer. (Speaking of media darlings, I just did an this article with The Daily Record.)

14. Stay in front of your fans. Blog or no blog, you still need to be writing and publishing SOME form of newsletter. At least once a month. Make it quick, easy to read and packed with practical content. (See #12) Oh, and don’t sell too much. Selling annoys readers.

15. Be open mentally. DeBono also says, “A confident thinker is willing to listen to others. He is willing to improve his thinking by acquiring a new idea or a new way of looking at things. He is also able to acknowledge that an answer has not been found. Besides, being right is really boring.” LESSON LEARNED: be open to other thought leaders’ ideas.

16. Be open physically. On your blog, be sure to leave the “comments” button on. And make them available to anybody, even anonymous readers. Transparency and openness apply online too.

17. Close with value. At the end of every article, blog post, video or piece of content you publish, be sure your sign-off accomplishes a few things. FIRST, tell people what you do, how you do it and who you do it for. SECOND, offer an easy way to get in touch with you. THIRD, have a call to action, i.e., a free report, a video to watch, a link to click, an exercise, a thought-provoking question, an email assignment, free access to your online library or a 15-minute consultation.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
Are you a thought leader?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
Tell us how you became one!

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

Are you the luckiest person you know?

Watch Scott's interview on 20/20!

add to del.icio.us * digg it! * email this post

Labels: get them to come to you, melon motivating, really long lists, stick yourself out there, writing is the basis of all wealth

[click to continue...]

Ever since the 20/20 segment ran last week, I've been getting LOTS of emails, IM's and phone calls about luck.

So, let's continue our discussion on How to become the Luckiest Person You Know!

First of all, if you're new here, welcome!

My name is Scott. I wear a nametag 24-7.

Check out parts one and two of this series first!)

OK. Let's get down to business...

1. Exponentially increase your activity level. Since November 2nd, 2000, I’ve met over 100,000 people. I also seem to be extremely lucky. Coincidence?

LUCK OUT: figure out how many people you encounter on an average day. Then triple it.

2. Don't stay at home. The best way to be in the right place at the right time is to be in a lot of places.

LUCK OUT: next time you want to sit around and surf the net, read or write, go to Starbucks or something. Increase the probability of an encounter by positioning yourself in a high-traffic area.

3. Practice strategic serendipity. It’s about preparation, observation and relaxation. This is especially important for trade shows, conferences and other high-traffic venues.

LUCK OUT: got an event coming up? Cool! Read this article called 19 Ways to be the One Person at Your Next Conference Everybody Remembers.

Also, watch this:



4. Stick yourself out there. The reason I meet so many people (and, subsequently have so many opportunities) is because a nametag is unexpected. It breaks people's patterns. It makes them wonder, "Huh?" And especially if they notice a nametag in an unexpected venue, like a concert or a wedding, they're more likely to approach me.

LUCK OUT: it's not about the nametag - it's about making the mundane memorable. Be unexpected.

5. Go to where people are. Identify your perfect customer. Find out where that type of person hangs out. Then go there all the time! Make yourself visible. Consistently deliver value through articles and giving speeches ... and let them come to you!

LUCK OUT: learn what association(s) your perfect customer belongs to. Become a member. (Also, take this hint from Samuel Jackson.)

6. What's in your wallet? Write every one of your goals down on one sheet of paper. Make them specific and attainable. Give each of them a date. Keep this goal sheet in your wallet at all times. Commence luck.

LUCK OUT: try this exercise for three months. See what happens. I triple dog dare you.

7. Kiss your comfort zone goodbye. Practice intentional discomfort. Do something absolutely crazy. No guts, no glory.

LUCK OUT: watch the video clip below to find out the three steps to making a name for yourself!



LET ME ASK YA THIS...
What is the #1 pigeonhole of your industry?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
Share your list of three ways to disarm it here!

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

Are you the luckiest person you know?

Watch Scott's interview on 20/20!

add to del.icio.us * digg it! * email this post

Labels: get them to come to you, it's not luck, stick yourself out there, strategic serendipity

[click to continue...]

The other day one of my audience members asked me, “What do you like LEAST about your job?”

“Stereotypes,” I replied.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, a lot of people think that authors and professional speakers are egomaniacal, self-serving, manipulative BS'ers who do nothing but spit fluff and hawk products from the stage instead of delivering real value.”

“Wow,” he said. “Is that really true?”

“That's what I've heard, not what I believe," I said. "So, I’d say it’s really more of a pigeonhole.”

Pigeonhole. That’s an important word in business.

See, to pigeonhole someone means “to place him into a compartment or to assign him a category.”

Which means you have a few challenges:

1. To figure out what your pigeonhole is.
2. To disarm it whenever you meet someone who wants to put you in it.

The following five steps will help you accomplish those challenges so you can turn pigeonholes into goldmines:

1. Brainstorm. Create a list called “Top Ten Stereotypes and Pigeonholes about My Job as a(n) ____________.” If you’re having trouble getting all ten, just call a coworker or someone who’s worked in your industry for a while. They should be able to help!

2. Defend. Create a sub-list for each item. Gather three examples, stories, statistics, testimonials or any other sort of evidence that proves those pigeonholes wrong.

3. Post. Share that list with the visitors of your website or blog. They’ll appreciate your honesty, transparency and openness. Feel free to use pictures, customer letters and videos. THAT should get them on your side.

4. Review. Spend a few minutes at the beginning of each day reviewing your Pigeonhole List. Keep it fresh in your mind, especially during conversations with customers and prospects. COOL IDEA: write that list on a sticky note and stick it on your phone!

5. Articulate. As soon as possible during a conversation, speech or sales presentation, address your pigeonholes. Reassure your audience (or customers) that working with you will NOT be consistent with the existing stereotypes of your industry.

FINAL NOTE: the whole reason for this approachable practice is to disarm the immediate preoccupations of your buyers.

THAT is what instills comfort.

Which establishes trust.
Which reinforces value.
Which ultimately enables people to buy.

Start brainstorming your stereotypes TODAY.

And tomorrow, you’ll begin turning pigeonholes into goldmines.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
What is the #1 pigeonhole of your industry?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
Share your list of three ways to disarm it here!

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

Are you the luckiest person you know?

Watch Scott's interview on 20/20!

add to del.icio.us * digg it! * email this post

Labels: consistency, don't sell - enable people to buy, get them to come to you, stick yourself out there, unforgettable first impressions, writing is the basis of all wealth, you're young enough to be my kid

[click to continue...]

If you're having diffuculty viewing this video, you can also watch it (or share the link) here!

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
Who's the luckiest person you know?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
What do they do that nobody else does?

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
That Guy with the Nametag

Download Scott's new book!
Right here, right now, for FREE, no strings.

add to del.icio.us * digg it! * email this post

Labels: adventures in nametagging, get them to come to you, it's not luck, kicking your own ass, scott in the news, stick yourself out there

[click to continue...]

According to Wikipedia, writer's block is “a phenomenon involving temporary loss of ability to continue writing, usually due to lack of inspiration or creativity.”

There’s also great list of techniques to help overcome creative barriers such as:

1. Set a time and write whatever comes to mind, without stopping, for that time.

2. Taking a break, meditating, or doing relaxation exercises to relieve any pressure on oneself and on the writing.

3. Doing something out of the ordinary. If writer's block comes from a lack of new ideas, attempts to spark creativity by going somewhere new or doing something different can be useful.

4. Reading, watching movies or plays, or similar activities that might bring inspiration.

Good stuff. Thanks Wikipedia!

However.

Writing is an extension of thinking. And great writers are great thinkers.

So, if you’re having trouble writing, that probably means you’re having trouble thinking.

Which brings me to the #1 way to overcome writer's block...

LESSON LEARNED: Go back to the source.

Better writing comes from better thinking.

You know, it’s funny. I’m often accused of “never running out of content,” "never sleeping" or “always pumping out new material.” (Like that's a bad thing!)

But see, I write like I talk. And I talk like I think. And since I’m usually either talking or thinking, then obviously, it’s not humanly possibly to get writer’s block!

Therefore, allow me to offer my own list for overcoming writer's block:

1. Clear. Practice meditation, mental dumping, relaxation, breathing or any other brain-conditioning techniques to open your mind, heart and soul to receive new ideas. Best when done first thing in the morning. Read The Artist's Way and learn how to do morning pages. I promise they will change your life.

2. Exercise. Your body AND your mind. Don't choose one or the other. Do both. Read books on creative thinking (especially the ones with exercises). Do Sudoku, crossword puzzles, anything to get your brain cranking. Also best when early in the morning.

3. Think. I know. It's so dumb that I'm telling you to "think." Still, every single day, take at least 15 minutes to just THINK. Yes, think. It sounds dumb to literally “make time to think,” but you’ll be amazed what you learn. Consider having daily appointments with yourself. I promise they will (also) change your life.

4. Read. Not the newspaper. Ughh. I’m talking about good books. Positive books. Fiction or non-fiction. Just something to get your imagination flowing.

5. Capture. Write everything down. Constantly. “Pluck” ideas daily by tuning in your eyes and ears and capturing content as if your life depended on it. And don’t tell yourself you’ll remember it. That which goes unrecorded goes unmemorable. If you don’t write it down, it NEVER happened. REMEMBER: Writing is the basis of all wealth. Oh, and don't forget about The Paradox of Inspiration. VERY important.

6. Expand. Take an idea; then stretch it. For example, I thought to myself the other day, “Why don’t I ever get writer’s block?” Then I sat down a made a list of everything I do to kick my creative spirit in the butt. Then I wrote this article. See? Expand it! Do word explorations. Google your idea to get more ideas.

REMEMBER: these tips are only effective when underscored by a foundation of t-h-i-n-k-i-n-g.

Because a writer in motion stays in motion.

So...

If you want to change your writing, change your thinking.
If you want to increase your writing, increase your thinking.
If you want to become a better writer, become a better thinker.

Writer's block, schmiter's block.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
What's your #1 way to overcome writer's block?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
Share your best technique here!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
That Guy with the Nametag

Download Scott's new book!
Right here, right now, for FREE, no strings.

add to del.icio.us * digg it! * email this post

Labels: commitment, consistency, get them to come to you, melon motivating, stick yourself out there, working really hard, writing is the basis of all wealth

[click to continue...]

I got an eye-opening instant message yesterday:

“Hey Scott … after I watched your segment on 20/20 last night, I went online to check out your website. I didn’t know what your URL was, so I just guessed it and typed in www.hellomynameisscott.com. Sure enough, I was right! Way to make it easy!”

The funny thing is, my total on-air time was only 2:43.

And I didn’t even mentioned my website.

Which means one of two things:

1. Either that guy was a really good guesser,
2. Or my brand was just THAT predictable.

My vote goes for #2.

So. What about you?

o If you had a three-minute conversation about your business, would the other person be able to guess your company’s URL in one try?

o If you delivered a three-minute speech about your business, would the audience members be able to guess your company’s URL in one try?

o If you did a three-minute interview about your business, would the viewers be able to guess your company’s URL in one try?

I hope so.

Because people are impatient.

According to Wikipedia, the human attention span is about 15 seconds.

According to the Washington Post, the amount of delay time web users are willing to tolerate is 8 seconds.

So, they need to get it in one try.

LESSON LEARNED: be (somewhat) predictable.

Here’s another example.

Last year I was giving a speech to a group of salespeople. When it was over, the emcee returned to the stage. When the applause died down, he said this:

“By the way, if anyone would like to learn more about Scott’s books and training programs, you can just go to his website. In fact, I’ll give you guys ONE guess what his website address is…”

In laughing unison, 300 people yelled out, “Hello-my-name-is-Scott-dot-com!”

Nice.

LESSON LEARNED: Make it really, really easy. And obvious. And simple.

Be (somewhat) predictable.

(Read part 1 of this post here.)

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
Are you (somewhat) predictable?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
List three behaviors your clients could probably predict about you here!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
That Guy with the Nametag

Download Scott's new book!
Right here, right now, for FREE, no strings.

add to del.icio.us * digg it! * email this post

Labels: commitment, consistency, get them to come to you, how to be that guy, small biz success, stick yourself out there, unforgettable first impressions

[click to continue...]

Hope everyone tuned in last night to 20/20's "The Lucky Ones"!

We watched it out here in Maderia, OH, at Casa de S.F.K.A.

It was totally cool.

Here's the transcript, fresh ABC's website:


The Lucky Ones: Is It Serendipity or Smarts?
Good Luck and Hard Work Often Go Hand in Hand

'Hello, My Name Is Scott'

Speaker and author Scott Ginsberg, 27, has no problem finding people to talk to. "I've probably had encounters with over 100,000 people," Ginsberg said.

His popularity is fueled by an accessory that may make most people uncomfortable: He always wears a name tag.

"What is with the name tag? Well, I get that probably three to five times a day. And it's been approximately 2,237 days that I've been wearing this 24/7," he said.

Ginsberg feels the name tag represents friendliness in a world filled with strangers. In fact, he started his marketing business, "Hello My Name Is Scott," when he was just 22. He now makes more than six figures a year from book sales and speaking engagements.

Ginsberg says his success is a result of his approachability and he can trace the first time it worked for him back to one key day years ago. He had a conversation with a stranger on a bus and gave him his card. "About a week later, I get a phone call from the editor of the Portland Tribune, who wants to do an article about my upcoming book. This article went out to every major news wire in the country. … Everything in my entire life since then is because that guy on the bus. His girlfriend was that reporter for the newspaper."

Ginsberg, like most lucky people, doesn't listen to naysayers. His belief in his positive attitude is so strong that he even got his name tag tattooed on his body. He said it's "100 percent real. And you know what? This is as real as my commitment. And I think that is what can actually increase someone's luck." According to Ginsberg, he is the luckiest person he knows.

- - -

I'll be sure to get the clip up on YouTube next week.

Until then, I've only got one thing to say...

"I've been dancing my ass off since Fresno!"

-Scott
www.hellomynameisscott.com

Labels: adventures in nametagging, get them to come to you, it's not luck, scott in the news, stick yourself out there

[click to continue...]

Big thanks to my friend Bob Baker from The Buzz Factor for putting together the Giant Nametag Video!

See everyone on 2020 tonight!

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
How do YOU stick yourself out there?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
Share your secrets here!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
That Guy with the Nametag

Watch Scott's interview on 20/20!
Tune in here!

add to del.icio.us * digg it! * email this post

Labels: adventures in nametagging, get them to come to you, nametagTV, stick yourself out there

[click to continue...]

1. What’s next? Keeps you productive. Keeps you in motion. It keeps you thinking about the future. Helps avoid complacency.

2. What did you write today? Writing is the basis of all wealth. Even if you’re not a writer, you’re a writer. SAY IT WITH ME: Writing is the basis of all wealth.

3. If everybody did exactly what you said, what would the world look like? Helps you clarify your philosophy. Plus, once you discover the answer(s) to that question, you now have a framework. Now all you have to do is make sure you’re giving your people (customers, staff) the tools to build that world.

4. What do you (really) sell? For example, if you work at Hertz, you’re not selling people a car. You selling people a way to get the heck out of the airport! So, ask yourself “What do I sell?” over and over and over. Make a list of at least ten different answers.

5. Is everything you know written down somewhere? If you don’t write it down, it never happened. That which goes unrecorded goes unmemorable.

6. What highly valuable activities did you accomplish today? If you can go to bed every night knowing that you achieved three highly valuable activities during the day, everything will be gravy.

7. Who else lives there that you can see when you’re in town? Helps you keep your network alive.

8. What’s the stupidest thing you could possibly say? Then, don’t say that. Don’t be ashamed to ask your clients or customers this question. They’ll appreciate your willingness to learn what to avoid.

9. How can you be visible to the highest number of people? Especially if you’re at a conference with lots of people.

10. What’s the universal human emotion of this story? That way it connects with everybody.

11. Why are you even telling this story? Don’t tell it just to tell it. Have a point. A lesson. A takeaway.

12. Are customers asking to buy a product or service you don’t presently sell? If so, maybe that should tell you something.

13. What are the best possible questions I could ask this person? Questions are the basis of all cooperation. And he who asks the best questions wins. It’s a perfect way to be that guy.

14. How does that relate to me? There’s a lesson in everything. The challenge is figuring out what you’re supposed to take away from a specific incident.

15. What industry do you want to dominate? Because niches = riches.

16. When was the last tome you were featured IN the media? About your business, about your philosophy and your products. Because anonymity is the greatest barrier to business success.

17. When was the last time you were interviewed BY the media? Because you need to be perceived as an expert.

18. What did I JUST learn from this experience? Because we learn not from our experiences; but from intelligent reflection upon those experiences.

19. Who else can I talk to about this? Make a list of every possible person that would be a good source of advice or help on a challenge.

20. Am I really the best person to be doing this? If not, find someone who is and recommend her. Don’t worry. The world will pay you back.

21. Am I giving away enough stuff for free? Because the more you give away for free, the wealthier you will be.

22. What’s the ONE thing I totally forgot to pack? I ask this to myself right before I leave for the airport. I usually helps out.

23. Is what I’m doing right now consistent with my number one goal? This question made me more money and helped me become more focused than anything. Ever.

24. Is what I’m doing right now leading to a sale? Just like the above example but more focused on selling. (Put this one on a sticky note!)

25. Did you get their email? It’s the single most important piece of information you need to obtain. Because everyone is in the name-accumulate business.

26. Did you listen enough? Twice as much as you talked.

27. What lesson did you learn today? Before you go to bed, take 30 seconds to jot this down on a note card. One sentence, one lesson from one day. At the end of the week and month, re-read them. Then share them with your employees, kids and friends. Encourage them to do the same.

28. What are you thankful for today? Developing an attitude of gratitude will attract more good things in your life because the universe is responsive and participative.

29. When did you say no today? Your time isn’t just valuable; it’s billable. And most entrepreneurs suck at saying no. Consider keeping a No Journal to make sure you’re saying it enough.

30. What (small) victories did you have today? Any victories build confidence and skill. Keep a Victory Log. (And if you don’t feel like keeping a bunch of journals or logs to answers these various questions, go back and read #2 again.)

31. How many new ideas did you come up with last week? The best way to come up with great ideas is to have a LOT of ideas.

32. Are you able to speak on your expertise at the drop of a hat? That’s how good you need to be. That’s how smart you need to be.

33. Can you speak on your expertise forever? If not, that’s cool. Your customers will find someone who can.

34. Do you really want to make this a career? If not, don’t bother. Hobbies aren’t enough. You need to make this a business. (Whatever “this” is.)

35. What did you read today? Every. Single. Day. And not the newspaper or magazines. Positive, healthy, enriching stuff.

36. How many books did you read last year? I read about 300. What about you?

37. What’s the stereotype of your profession? Know this at the beginning (of your career, of your sales calls and of your days) so you can address it early, disarm people and earn their trust.

38. Have people heard about you? Because the only reason anyone will do business with you is because 1) They’ve heard you, 2) They’ve heard OF you, or 3) Someone they trust has heard of you.

39. Are people talking about you? Because word of mouth is the most honest, most effective and most sincere marketing medium. Also, Oscar Wilde once remarked, “The only thing worse than being talked about is NOT being talked about.”

40. What do you do? Be prepared to answer this question confidently, uniquely and quickly. Have several versions ready to go for various situations.

41. Are you talking to the right person? Find the economic buyer. Don’t waste people’s time.

42. What if you got sick? Would you still make money? Would your business function by itself?

43. What if 9/11 happens again? Will you still make money? Can your business thrive without travel?

44. Do people know what you do? If you successfully answered #40, this shouldn’t be a problem.

45. Do people know what you’re DOING? Publish an ezine, blog or calendar that keeps your network in the loop. Makes it easier for them to refer you.

46. Do people know what you’ve DONE? Because there’s nothing more persuasive than a working example. Also makes it easier for them to refer you.

47. What type of marketing will you use? Remember, there’s like 46 different ways. Consider using all of them.

48. What have you done in the last 24 hours to promote YOU? Tom Peters asked this question in his awesome book The Brand You 50.

49. What have you done in the last 24 hours to increase your credibility? Because complacency is the enemy of growth.

50. Have you googled yourself this week? Becaue you can participate your online image, but you can’t control it. Because if you don’t exist on the Internet, you don’t exist.

51. Why are people picking you? The media, your customers, etc. Constantly ask them, “Why me?” Figure out the answer; repeat often.

52. What is today’s creative opportunity? There will probably be more than one per day. Still, the world is filled with them. Listen closely.

53. If you were to close your doors TODAY, what would you customers miss most? Hopefully there’s a good answer (or answers) to this question. Because a LOT of entrepreneurs out there are quickly and easily replaceable.

54. What’s your guarantee? Have something cool, remarkable and unexpected. When you remove risk from your transactions, it sets you apart, earns trust and stimulates word of mouth. For example, my guarantee to any of my customers is, “If you feel that any of my products suck, call my cell phone and your money will be refunded.” Nobody’s ever called me on it. Yet.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
Who's the luckiest person you know?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
What do they do that nobody else does?

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
That Guy with the Nametag

Watch Scott's interview on 20/20!
Tune in here!

add to del.icio.us * digg it! * email this post

Labels: be the world's expert on yourself, really long lists, writing is the basis of all wealth

[click to continue...]

OK. I've kept it a secret for three months...

I'M GOING TO BE ON 20/20!!!

I got the call in March. One of their producers read my article, How to become the Luckiest Person You Know.



HERE'S THE BEST PART: their upcoming episode is all about (get this) ... people who create their own luck!

That's me!

Anyway, their crew flew down from New York City, came to my office, sat in the audience of one of my speeches ... even rigged me up with "Nametag Cam!"

Sure, they completely took over my entire office. But it was a blast. And I'm excited to see how the segment turns out.

(Boy, ABC brings a lot of gear, huh?)

REMEMBER: tune in THIS FRIDAY, June 15th on ABC's 20/20 at 10 PM Eastern!

And if you can't watch it, don't worry ... it'll be on YouTube by next week.

ONE FINAL NOTE: you're probably wondering, "How in the world did you get on 20/20?"

Check this out.

In March, 20/20 online posted this page.

It's a online form.

You fill it out, share your "lucky" story and HOPE that 20/20 maybe calls you back.

Who knows how many thousands of other people you're competing with?

I guess you could say it would be "lucky" if you got the call.

That is, if you actually believed in luck.

Which I don't.

That's why I NEVER filled anything out.

And miraculously, they called me.

Here's why...

Because the producer, who was creating a piece about "lucky people," went onto Google and did a search on the exact phrase "the luckiest person you know."

And out of 539,000 pages, guess who's article came up first AND second?













LESSONS LEARNED:

1. Writing is the basis of all wealth.
2. It ain't about luck.
3. Stick yourself out there; get them to come to you.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
Who's the luckiest person you know?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
What do they do that nobody else does?

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
That Guy with the Nametag

Download Scott's new book!
Right here, right now, for FREE, no strings.

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Labels: get them to come to you, it's not luck, news, stick yourself out there, writing is the basis of all wealth

[click to continue...]

I pushed my shopping cart up to the counter.

“Good morning!” I said to the cashier.

I awaited my greeting.

And the first words out of her mouth were:

“Zip code please.”

Yes. That was her actual greeting.


Not “Hello.”
Not “How are ya?”
Not “Welcome to Office Depot!”

Zip code please.

Gee, thanks for the friendly greeting, I thought.

WARNING: This indicator of unapproachable service is called The First Word Farce. And here’s why it’s so crucial:

According to an article from the Wall Street Journal in February of 2006, you only have a few seconds to make an UNFORGETTABLE first impression.

A few seconds!

LESSON LEARNED: Greetings are GOLD because confidence is KING.

So, the challenge is: Which extreme of the unforgettable spectrum will you project?

Unfortunately, too many front line employees go the wrong way.

That is, they greet the customer according protocol. What THEY have to say, as opposed to what THE CUSTOMER wants to hear.

Examples include:

Next in line!
Paper or plastic?
Last name please!
Phone number with area code first…

You get the point.

A similar example that comes to mind is the local sandwich shop by my office.

When customers step up to the front counter, the first words out of the cashiers’ mouths are, “For here, or to go?”

Sometimes, they’ll even interrupt YOUR friendly greeting, just because they HAVE to ask that question first!

OK, so here’s the deal. If you’re a receptionist, cashier or any other front line employees AND want to avoid the First Word Farce, consider three ideas:

1. Brainstorm. Sit down (or have line-up) with your entire front line team. Challenge each employee to come up with three brand new, brand consistent greetings. Then, vote on which greetings you like best, and try them out for a week.

2. Field Research. Now that you understand the First Word Farce, the next step is to keep your eyes and ears open. Pay close attention to the first words used by other front lines employees when you’re the customer. Make note of how they made you feel. Ask yourself, “Would I want MY customers to be greeted that way?”

3. Think big picture. Whatever greeting you decide upon, just remember one thing: make it customer oriented.

Even if you’re in a rush.

Even if you need some information from a customer to begin the transaction.

There’s always time.

AND, there’s always room, too.

In that respect, Approachable Service is sort of like JELLO.

Because when you do it right, it’s not only sweet, it’s also satisfying.

Both for you AND the customer.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
What's your best tip for making an UNFORGETTABLE first impression?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
Share it here!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
That Guy with the Nametag

Download Scott's new book!
Right here, right now, for FREE, no strings.

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Labels: approachable service, attitude of approachability, get them to come to you, phrases that payses, stick yourself out there, unforgettable first impressions

[click to continue...]

Competition is all about attitude.

For example…

When something great happens to one of your competitors, don’t get jealous and upset.

INSTEAD, think, “Man I need to get on the ball!”
INSTEAD, ask, “Hmm. Are we doing stuff like that?”

Competition is all about attitude.

When you feel like comparing yourself to one of your competitors, don’t.

INSTEAD, don’t be better than anyone else; just be better than you used to be.
INSTEAD, ask, “What am I doing?” and not, “How am I doing?”

Competition is all about attitude.

When you become preoccupied with what the other guy’s progress, stop.

INSTEAD, ask, “What can I do to serve?” and not “What can I do to win?”
INSTEAD, think about being the finest, not the first.

Competition is all about attitude.

And now, here are two people much smarter than me who said it best:

“When you are content to simply be yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you.” --Lao-tzu

“Competition deflects our attention from self to others. When a business is merely focused on what the competitors are up to, it becomes reactive instead of proactive; it copycats instead of developing originality.” --Julia Cameron

Now, your ULTIMATE goal would be position yourself in a way that disables the mere possibility of competition.

But being “the only one,” being thee, not a, takes time.

And you’ll get there eventually. So for now, remember:

Proactive; not reactive.
Compare; don’t compete.
Finest; not first.

Competition is all about attitude.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
What's your approach to the competition?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
Share your formula here!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
That Guy with the Nametag

Download Scott's new book!
Right here, right now, for FREE, no strings.

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Labels: attitude of approachability, get them to come to you, how to be that guy, stick yourself out there

[click to continue...]

Where do you get your best ideas?

Late at night?
Early in the morning?
While sitting on a beach during sunset?

If you’re like me, you do your best thinking while exercising.

Running in the mountains. Swimming at the Y. Walking in the park.

Solvitas perambulatorum, as our Latin friends call it.

"Solving problems in the process of physical exercise."

I first understood the power of this process during an 8 mile run on a 97-degree afternoon in the summer of 2005.

Maybe it was the heat.
Maybe it was the humidity.
Maybe it was the endorphins pumping through my veins as my ever-expanding mind drifted off to Creative La-La Land.

But by the time I finished my run, I had actually written an entire book!

I stumbled into my car. Grabbed my idea jotter. And as the sweat dripped off my chin and onto the paper, I frantically wrote down three words that would eventually change my business forever: BE THAT GUY.

One year later, the book How to be That Guy was released.

Wow, maybe I should go running more often! I thought.

LESSON LEARNED: working out works.

And here’s why:

According to The Artist’s Way, exercise clears your mind, stabilizes your emotions and levels your perspective.

It contributes to an increased production and release of endorphins. That results in a sense of euphoria that has been popularly labeled as the "runner's high."

“The rhythmic, repetitive action transfers the locus of the brain’s energies from the logic to the artist hemisphere. It is there inspiration bubbles up untrammeled by the constraints of logic,” Julia Cameron explains.

Furthermore, pumping rhythmically and repetitively also pumps the well of your creativity.

Working out works.

Even Thomas Jefferson was known for taking two-hour walks every day.

“The sovereign invigorator of the body is exercise,” he claimed, “and a strong body makes the mind strong.”

So, if you want to motivate your melon, consider the follow tips for practicing solvitas perambulatorum:

1. Do it daily. Even a fifteen-minute walk around the block counts. Remember, you’re working out your body AND your brain. There’s ALWAYS time. Get up earlier if you have to.

2. Do it rhythmically. Repetition allows you to get lost in the activity. That’s why running, walking and swimming are among the best choices. Repetition = Rhythm = Focus = Increased Creativity.

3. Do it intentionally. Right before you jump in the pool or hit the track, frame your mind. Start thinking about your present problem or new idea. Say to yourself, “OK brain, we’ve got a half hour to think about this. Let’s get crackin…”

4. Do it musically. Grab your iPod and start blasting some tunes. Consider creating your own playlist specifically for these creative situations. You’ll find that combining your senses expands your creative prowess. Plus, music is a great way to get lost in any activity. Plus, running to the Rocky IV soundtrack makes you feel really, really cool.

5. Do it and write it. If you’re walking, bring a notepad with you. If you’re running or swimming, have the notepad waiting when you’re done. There’s no doubt you’re going to get some great ideas, so you MUST write them down! Because if you don’t write it down, it never happened. And that which goes unrecorded goes unmemorable. REMEMBER: writing is the basis of all wealth.

6. Do it strategically. When should you exercise? When your mind draws a blank. When you’re stuck on a new idea. When you’ve been working on a new project for six straight hours. When you’ve got a long day of creative thinking ahead of you. All of these situations should set off the exercise alarm. (Plus, you can write off your new running shoes as a business expense!)

Ultimately, exercising the body relaxes the mind.

Sure, your muscles might be sore; but your brain will be chillin!

The goal is to make your brain feel like JELL-O. That way, your creative mind will mold into its most innovative, most amiable and most productive state.

Solvitas perambulatorum.

Because working out works.

Stretch your legs and you will stretch your mind.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
Where do you get your best ideas?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
Share your best melon motivator here!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
That Guy with the Nametag

Download Scott's new book!
Right here, right now, for FREE, no strings.

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Labels: get them to come to you, melon motivating

[click to continue...]

It’s the most frequently asked question, like, ever.

“So, what do YOU do?"

So many answers, so little time.

THE CHALLENGE: coming up with a memorable, concise and brand-consistent message.

However, there’s no one-way to do it! Let’s explore ten different approaches to answering this question.

1. The Lois Creamer Approach
“I work with (target market) who want to (desired outcome) so they can (benefit).”

EXAMPLE:

“So, what do YOU do?”

“I work with small business owners who want to increase productivity so they can spend more time their families.”

2. The Dick Brusso Approach
“I help (target market) accomplish (desired outcome) through (media through which you help achieve that outcome).”

EXAMPLE:

“So, what do YOU do?”

“I help hotel chains boost their customer service numbers through online training programs.”

3. The John Jantsch Approach
“I (verb) (target market) (benefit).”

EXAMPLE:

“So, what do YOU do?”

“I educate furniture salespeople on closing techniques.”

4. The Gitomer Approach
Just say something funny and confident.

EXAMPLE:

“So, what do YOU do?”

“I’m the greatest valet parker in the world!"

5. The Paul Edwards Approach
(Common Problem) + (Reason Why) + (Positioning Statement)

EXAMPLE:

“So, what do YOU do?”

“You know how marathon runners’ backs always hurt after a long jog? Well, that’s because their vertebrae are out of sync. See, I’m a chiropractor and I help marathon runners get their bones back into shape so they can break their personal running records!”

6. The Joke Approach
Say something unexpected and funny to disarm the situation, then follow-up with a real answer.

EXAMPLE:
“So, what do YOU do?”

“As little as possible!”

(Insert gut-busting laughter here.)

“But seriously, my job is to…”

7.The Steve Hughes Approach
Just pretend you’re talking to a five year old.

EXAMPLE: “So, what do you do?”

“I help grown-ups get better at show and tell!”

8. The Benefit of the Benefit Approach
I make (target market) (benefit of the benefit)

EXAMPLE:

“So, what do YOU do?”

“I make customers breathless.”

9. The Jeff Magee Approach
I do three things…

EXAMPLE:

“So, what do YOU do?”

I do three things: write books, give speeches and conduct teleseminars on how to expand your creativity.

10. The Scott Ginsberg Approach
(“Huh?”) + (Value Statement) + (“Aha!”)

“I wear a nametag 24-7!”

“Huh? Are you serious?”

“Yep! And I write books, speeches and training materials on approachability.”

“Ohhhhh,” she nodded. “I get it. Cool! We should hire you.”

Yes. Yes you should. Here's my fee schedule ;)

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
What's your approach to the 10-second commercial?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
Share your formula here!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
That Guy with the Nametag

Download Scott's new book!
Right here, right now, for FREE, no strings.

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Labels: don't sell - enable people to buy, get them to come to you, how to be that guy, networking superhero, people buy people first, stick yourself out there, unforgettable first impressions

[click to continue...]

One of my favorite movies is M. Night Shaymalan’s Unbreakable, staring Bruce Willis.

He plays David Dunn, a mild-mannered security guard who discovers he’s a superhero.

The coolest part of the movie is when he finally comes to terms with his true identity.

“I wasn’t hurt in that car accident,” he admits. “I’ve never been injured.”

“What do I do?”

“Go to where people are,” Samuel Jackson says. “You won’t have to look very long.”

Wow. I get chills every time I watch this scene.

Mainly because Shaymalan is an amazing director.

But also because there’s a powerful marketing lesson to be learned.

Go to where people are.

HERE’S YOUR ASSIGNMENT: Think of yourself as a superhero.

Your expertise is your superpower.

Your branding is your costume.

And there are innocent bystanders (aka, customers) who need saving.

They need you to rescue them.

HERE’S YOUR CHALLENGE: Figure out where your people are.

Your target market.
Your perfect customers.
Your pool of prospects that need you.

Here’s a list of five questions (and five approaches) to help you find the answer:

1. Where do they hang? Maybe there’s a popular bar, club or coffee shop that draws crowds of your people. Perfect! That’s where you need to be spending time.

YOUR APPROACH: Next time you meet with an existing customer, ask him: “Where do you and your colleagues hang out at lunch or after work?”

YOUR GOAL: create such a presence in this hangout that your customers either think you work there, or that you’re one of them!

2. Where do they meet? As a professional speaker, if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that there’s an association for EVERYTHING! Especially your target market.

YOUR APPROACH: go online and do a search for “association,” “your city” and “your target market.” For example, if you sell copiers to lawyers in Milwaukee, type “Milwaukee” “attorney” “association.”

YOUR GOAL: Find out where they meet up, and join up!

3. Who (else) do they see? OK, let’s say you’re a massage therapist who specializes in athletes over 50. Ask yourself, “What other doctors or health professionals do they see?” After all, those are the exact people who will recommend your services!

YOUR APPROACH: consider writing articles, white papers or even books on your area of expertise and giving them away for free. Great way to deliver value.

YOUR GOAL: to develop mutually valuable relationships with these “other people” your customers also see.

4. Who else serves them? You’re not the only person who serves the people you serve. Now, this isn’t about competition; this is about complimenting. For example, when you go to the store to buy a bag of Tostitos for the Superbowl, what else might you buy? Salsa? Beer? Nacho cheese? Right. All of these items are complimentary products.

YOUR APPROACH: ask your customers “WHAT else you buying?” and “WHOM else are you buying from?”

YOUR GOAL: make sure these complimentary salespeople know who you are; and vice versa.

5. Where do they grow? Let’s say your target customers are independent hairstylists in Chicago. Ask yourself, “Where do they study, train and grow?” Research every beauty school, hair styling college and fashion organization in the city! They key is to start early. Do what McDonald’s does: get ‘em while they’re young.

YOUR APPROACH: ask if you can be a guest lecturer. Position yourself as an expert from The Real World who seeks to educate these up-and-comers. Tell them what to expect when they graduate.

YOUR GOAL: to build relationships with the faculty, and more importantly, the students. And eventually when your customers are old enough to be on their own, they’ll perceive you as an expert, a friend and a resource.

CHALLENGE: this week, take time to ask yourself these five questions.

And remember that you truly ARE a superhero.

You have the power to deliver value and save the day!

But ONLY if you go to where people are.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
Do you know where to find your pool of customers?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
Practice these five approaches and let me know what happens!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
That Guy with the Nametag

Download Scott's new book!
Right here, right now, for FREE, no strings.

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Labels: get them to come to you, how to be that guy, stick yourself out there

[click to continue...]

Next time someone says to you, “Do as I say, not as I do…”

A red flag should go up.

Think about it.

This person is willfully admitting that his words and actions are not consistent.

Which represents a deficiency in character.

My mentor Bill Jenkins always reminded me, “Character is the degree to which your words and actions are congruent.”

Yes! Yes! Yes! 100%

Also, William Shakespeare once said that action is eloquence.

Absolutely! Totally! You bet! Possibly the three most brilliant words ever uttered.

So, in light of what Bill #1 and Bill #2 said, here are two additional points to ponder:

1. People don’t give you credit for what they HEAR you SAY consistently. They only give you credit for what they SEE you DO consistently.

2. Practice orthopraxy, not orthodoxy. It’s the difference between the correct ACTIONS and the correct BELIEFS. In short: practices, not principles. So, instead of practicing what you preach, preaching what you practice. It’s more authentic, more believable, more persuasive, more approachable and more eloquent.

Ultimately, your challenge is to develop the consistency and character to be able to say the following sentence…

“Do as I say (AND) as I do.”

Because when you’re consistent with your words and actions, those two things will become one in the same.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
Are you telling people to do as you SAY or do as you DO?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
Keep a running log of how many times people say this sentence. Then ask yourself how it makes you feel. Then ask yourself if you'd want others to feel that way about you.

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
That Guy with the Nametag

Download Scott's new book!
Right here, right now, for FREE, no strings.

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Labels: commitment, consistency, get them to come to you

[click to continue...]

Everyone loves kids.

Because kids are fun and creative and positive and playful.

Which makes them approachable.

And what’s cool is, any time an adult comes in contact with a kid, those attributes transfer. Even the biggest, toughest, most polished executive will stop in their tracks, bend down and say, “Where’s your nose? I got your nose!”

So, if children are approachable (and as a result, everyone loves being around them) doesn’t it just make sense to act the same way?

Not so fast, kiddo.

THE CHALLENGE: maintain a balance between being childish and childlike.

See, child-ISH means, “juvenile, immature, irresponsible and foolish.”

But child-LIKE means “innocent, pure, candid and simple.”

(Not to mention fun, creative and super happy!)

If you want to boost your approachability TODAY, consider these two ideas for becoming more childlike:

1. Observe. It’s amazing to just sit back at marvel at the creativity, positivity and simplicity of kids. Not to mention learn a few lessons on the way!

TRY THIS: once a month, spend at least thirty minutes hanging around a group of kids. From birthday parties to classrooms to kickball fields, take the opportunity to surround yourself with them. Oh, and make sure to bring a little notepad with you too. Jot down the Top Ten Business Lessons you learned while observing the group. Then email those to your customers the next day.

2. Celebrate. Kids love to make a big deal out of little things. For example, imagine you’re in fourth grade. It’s Wednesday and the cafeteria has tater tots. What would you say to your friends? Probably something like, “Sweet!” or “Woo hoo!” or “Yessssss!”

NOTE: you’re not too old to say stuff like that! Those expressions are perfect ways to express excitement and positivity, even in the most mundane situations. And they’re attractive to other people. So, next time you make a sale, receive an exciting email or accomplish one of your goals, celebrate! Exclaim, “I did it!” “I’m the man!” “Yesssss!” Everyone in the room will smile. Including you.

ONE FINAL NOTE: the last reason acting child-LIKE (not child-ISH) is so approachable is because it’s contagious.

One person’s playful spirit brings out the same in another. So, by acting child-LIKE, you subconsciously give other people PERMISSION to the same.

I challenge you to start becoming more childlike today. Remember to observe AND celebrate, and you’ll be one step closer to getting them to come to you.

Come on. Do it for the kids.

(For more was to escape adulthood, ask my friends Jason and Kim. They're the experts!)

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
Are you child-LIKE or child-ISH?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
Share your two best kiddy-attributes here!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
That Guy with the Nametag

Download Scott's new book!
Right here, right now, for FREE, no strings.

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Labels: get them to come to you, melon motivating, totally random stuff

[click to continue...]

It’s not luck.
It’s not chance.
It’s not accidental.

It’s not even serendipity. (Not completely, that is.)

“Strategic” Serendipity means attending an event, conference or other networking-rich venue with an attitude of expectation.

That something great is going to happen.

That opportunity is going fall right into your lap.

That you’re going to meet that one person who changes everything.

Here are 8 keys to practicing Strategic Serendipity:

1. Detach from outcomes. Sure, you have goals. Maybe to sell. Maybe to get in front of the right buyers. However, also try to focus less on the outcome and more on the big picture. Free yourself from agendas. Develop a no-entitlement attitude. And focus on having fun, delivering value and creating a memorable (er, unforgettable) presence.

2. Prepare yourself mentally. Before walking in the front door, spend 15 minutes affirming to yourself, “Today is going to be a great day! I’m going to meet cool people and give them value. Opportunities are going to come my way. I will attract success.”

3. Come prepared. Have every marketing material, business card and any other part of your networking arsenal easily accessible. Wear army pants and bring a backpack if you have to! Expectation attracts; but only if it’s supported with action.

4. Grow bigger ears. Listen to what the world is trying to tell you. Be on the lookout for people, situations and locations that seem to be begging you to approach them. Especially the unusual, unexpected ones.

For example, I once walked by massage booth at conference. The massage therapist saw my nametag and said, “Scott, would you like a massage?” I thought about it for a moment, said yes, sat down and enjoyed my massage. A few minutes later when I rose out of my chair, the woman who was next to me in line turned out to be a reporter for a major newspaper. We struck up a conversation that ended in a 30-minute interview and a 2-page article!

LESSON LEARNED: say yes more.

5. Evaluate your surroundings. If you’re attending an event, conference or trade show, be prudent about geography. Ask yourself the following questions:

a. Where will I be the most visible?
b. What landmark are people constantly walking by?
c. Where are people most likely to engage with me?
d. Who can I meet that is likely to tell his friends about me?
e. Who else is this room could be that ONE guy that changes everything?

6. Stick yourself out there. Don’t plan so darn much. Just show up and be prepared to let new people and situations unfold by themselves. Put out your raft and ride the current. It will take you where you’re supposed to go.

7. Extend every encounter. When talking with someone new, ask if they’d like to continue the conversation over lunch or coffee. Keep the interaction alive. The longer you spend with someone, the more likely you are to discover how you can help each other. Also, find out if there are other events, happy hour or post-conference parties you could attend together.

8. Make your memory happy. After you meet someone, WRITE DOWN (either on their business card or elsewhere) the following things:

a. What she looked like
b. What you talked about
c. A few bits of personal info you can bring up next time you talk
d. How you can help each other
e. What your CPI (Common Point of Interest) is

9. Follow up. Use the information gathered from the previous example in your second approach. Prove your listening skills. Then, deliver something valuable like a link, recommendation or article.

HERE'S THE CHALLENGE: with Strategic Serendipity, you won’t always know when it worked.

Defining the ROI of something like this is tough.

But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t work.

JUST KNOW THIS: when you develop an attitude of expectation, prepare yourself mentally AND physically, and when you stick yourself out there, they WILL come to you.

“They,” meaning people.
“They,” meaning opportunities.
“They,” meaning new business.

Because it’s not chance. It’s not luck. And it’s not accidental.

It’s Strategic Serendipity.

And it works.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
How do you create serendipity?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
Share your best story here (and lessons learned) here!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
That Guy with the Nametag

Download Scott's new book!
Right here, right now, for FREE, no strings.

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Labels: get them to come to you, keep it alive, really long lists, stick yourself out there, strategic serendipity

[click to continue...]

(To watch a video of The Giant Nametag, click here!)

Just got back from my first ever BEA experience.

Here's what I learned:

1. Attitude. In a sea of thousands of people all trying to get noticed, you have NO choice but to be unforgettable and remarkable. So you better begin with the attitude of approachability. That you’re going to stick yourself out there.

2. Detach from outcomes. Sure, you have goals. Maybe to sell. Maybe to get in front of the right buyers. However, also try to focus less on the outcome and more on the big picture. Free yourself from agendas. Develop a no-entitlement attitude. And focus on having fun, delivering value and creating a memorable (er, unforgettable) presence. Because sometimes, when you care the least; you do the best.

3. Go beyond free. Every booth, vendor, exhibitor and company is going to give something away for free. So, before you attend the show, brainstorm a list of the Top 50 Most Common (and Annoying) Free Giveaways. Don’t do any of them. Instead, pick something cool, remarkable and consistent with your brand that people will actually KEEP. Otherwise, you may as well just tell the attendees, “Here, YOU throw this away!”

4. But don’t go overboard on free. You don’t have to give away something for free to EVERYBODY. If they don’t want it, don’t force it. REMEMBER: approachability is a two-way street. Consider offering a free item that’s so good, people actually come up to YOU and say, “Ooh! Can I have one of those?”

5. Smile. The whole damn time.

6. Wave. To every single person.

7. Use disarming approaches. Six words: “Hi, I don’t know anybody here!”

8. Practice strategic serendipity. Say yes a LOT more. Spend time with people in areas and around things you wouldn’t normally approach. Break your patterns.

9. Don’t pick and choose. Talk to everybody. Even your non-buyers and customers. Even the food service people. Even the janitors. Even the information booth guy. Even the conference planners. Especially the conference planners. Because you never know. And consistency is far better than rare moments of greatness.

10. Dress it up. If you can find some sort of costume that’s consistent with your brand, do it. I wear a giant nametag to my conferences. Nobody misses me. Does your appearance stand out or blend in?

11. Achieve The HVA. Which stands for 1) “Huh?” 2) Value and 3) “Aha!” Attract people to yourself (or booth) with curiosity. Spark their interest. Then deliver your value statement. Then get them to say, “Ah! I get it! That’s cool…”

12. Speaking of curiosity. Do something that encourages strangers to approach you and say, “So, what’s the story behind that?”

13. Strike the match. Do something that make people say, “Dude, did you see that guy who…” Generate inner-conference buzz.

14. Make music, not noise. Everyone else at your conference is going to be making NOISE. With their annoying, boring promo materials and free toys that nobody wants or cares about. You need to make MUSIC by getting people to smile, laugh, say hello, start talking, have fun and deliver remarkable value.

15. Interact; don’t interrupt. Everyone else at your conference is going to be INTERRUPTING the other attendees. Take this! See this! Have a free cookie! They say. Instead, consider INTERACTING, not interrupting people. Making friends. Strike up conversations. Talk about business later. Lead with your person; follow with your profession. Open your conversations with topics OTHER than business, sales, the weather, traffic and the like.

16. Just chill. Stressed and hurried are not approachable adjectives. Separate yourself from other attendees by not appearing overly needy and desperate for business. After all, it’s hard to sell with your tongue hanging out! Just chill. Relax.

17. Attract attention. Notice it says “attract,” and not “draw.” Major difference. Your job is to be remarkable and cool and fun and valuable. If so, people that see you will follow these six steps:

a. Smile and point at you.
b. Nod in agreement.
c. Think or say, “Nice!” or “That’s cool!”
d. Grab their friend’s shirt and say, “Jimmy, you’ve got to check out this guy over here…”
e. Approach you.
f. Tell everyone about you.

18. Find the cameras. Photographers, press folks and bloggers LOVE to capture images and videos of cool, fun, remarkable stuff. They also like to share those images in their publications and on the web. So, ask yourself the following three questions:

a. Are you worth videotaping?
b. Are you worth taking a picture of?
c. Are you worth blogging about the next morning?

19. Be a rock star. Do things to enhance your celebrity status. Bring a friend to follow YOU around with a camera all day. Give a speech. Hold a pre or post event party.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
How do YOU become unforgettable at conferences?

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Share your strategies here!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
That Guy with the Nametag

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Right here, right now, for FREE, no strings.

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Labels: adventures in nametagging, get them to come to you, how to be that guy, really long lists, stick yourself out there, strategic serendipity, unforgettable first impressions

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Shakespeare once said, “Action is eloquence.”

Wow. Consider the sheer magnitude of those three words.

Action is eloquence.

Brings to mind a few thoughts:

1. Having a great, positive attitude doesn’t do you any good if you don’t follow UP, and follow THROUGH with action.

2. Goals without actions are just dreams. (Not sure who gets credit for that line, but it’s true.)

3. People don’t give you credit for what they HEAR you SAY consistently. They only give you credit for what they SEE you DO consistently.

4. Luck isn’t accidental. You create it and attract it with your actions combined with your attitude.

5. Practice orthopraxy, not orthodoxy. It’s the difference between the correct ACTIONS and the correct BELIEFS. In short: practices, not principles. So, instead of practicing what you preach, preaching what you practice. It’s more authentic, more believable, more persuasive, more approachable and more eloquent.

6. DO things first; don’t SAY things first. So, do something first, THEN tell people about it. THEN tell people what you learned. THEN encourage them to do the same. Lead with actions, not words.

Action is eloquence.

Well said, Bill.

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What's your favorite Shakespeare quotation?

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* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
That Guy with the Nametag

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Right here, right now, for FREE, no strings.

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Growing up?

Ha!

Once a kid, always a kid.

And my friends Kim and Jason agree. They're two of the coolest, most creative and folks I know.

That's why I'm proud to be featured in their brand-spankin' new publication, Escape Adulthood.



Download a PDF of the issue here.

They even included a picture from when I was seven years old! Try not to laugh too hard...

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
What's your favorite childlike quality ... to practice as an adult?

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Share them here!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
That Guy with the Nametag

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Right here, right now, for FREE, no strings.

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Labels: adventures in nametagging, be the world's expert on yourself, news, stick yourself out there

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It’s rare to have an epiphany while standing in the middle of Hooters.

But I guess there’s a first time for everything.

“Look around this bar,” my friend Matt urged, “and tell me what you see.”

“Um … hooters. I see hooters,” I said.

“Alright, wise-guy. Now tell me what you REALLY see,” he joked.

“Well, I see lots of businesspeople.”

“OK. Good,” he said. “Now. Do you know what all these businesspeople have in common?”

“No idea.”

“Here. Let me show you something,” he said as he pulled out his wallet.

Matt unfolded a well-worn piece of paper. Both sides were covered in text.

“These are my goals,” he proudly stated.

“What, like, ALL of them?”

“Yes. Every one of them. Over 100, too: short term, long term, personal, business, relationship, you name it!”

“Wow. THAT is cool,” I nodded. “And I see you’ve dated and quantified each goal too. Nice work.”

“Thanks,” Matt smiled. “Now, do you know why I showed this to you?”

I leaned forward.

“Because statistically, about three percent of all businesspeople actually write their goals down. And less than one percent actually carry their goals with them at all times.”

“Which means, at this very Hooters, at this very moment, I guarantee you that I’m the ONLY person in the room who has his goals written down AND stored in his wallet.”

A chill ran down my spine.

“That’s what all these people have in common. They just don’t get it.”

Matt changed me on that day.

The way I think about goals.
The way I think about self-motivation.
The way I think about personal success.

When I got home that night, I sat down until 1 AM typing out every one of my personal and professional goals on a single piece of paper.

When the printer finished up, I grabbed my goal sheet and took one last look at it.

And I felt excited. Confident. Motivated.

Then I folded it up, stuck it in my wallet and committed to looking at it once a day, every day, until every goal was accomplished.

- -

I dare you.

I double dare you.

No, I TRIPLE DOG DARE YOU … to do this exercise.

Because it won’t just change the way you look at goals.

It will change the way you walk into a room.

Because even when you’re feeling down … even when you’re feeling unsuccessful … and even when you think business sucks

... all you'll have to do is pull that little piece of paper out of your wallet, take one look around, and think to yourself, “You know what? I’m probably the ONLY person in the room who has one of these.”

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
What's in YOUR wallet?

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Share three of those items here!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
That Guy with the Nametag

Download Scott's new book!
Right here, right now, for FREE, no strings.

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Labels: commitment, get them to come to you, totally random stuff

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