What I really like about Facebook is how easy it is to share thoughts that come to me or things that I find. Each Facebook post generates a little web page that is linked to others through “like” votes or comments that people leave.

Here are some ideas, quotes and resources I’ve posted on my Facebook personal profile during the last couple of weeks. Feel free to comment directly on any of them (Facebook login required):

• Tip: The challenge with selling services is that there is no urgency to buy. Create “Limited-Time Offers” focusing on one aspect of your biz  (post)
• Thot: Getting clients is like getting love: if you chase after it you won’t get it. You have to let it come to you. (post)
• “Now is your time. You have one life, and it is short. Use it powerfully. Celebrate it as a precious gift. Don’t allow fear to paralyze you. As Goethe wrote: Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid.” – Matthew Kelly (post)
• When the vision is clear, the means to make it happen will appear. I was reminded of this truth once again this morning… (post)
• ‎”We are not grand because we are at the top of the food chain or because we can alter our environment—the environment will outlast us with its unfathomable forces and unyielding powers. But rather than be bound and defeated by our insignificance, we are bold because we exercise our will anyway, despite the ephemeral and delicate presence we have in this desert, on this planet, in this universe.” – Aron Ralston (post)
• Reading: “How To Succeed in Social Media For Less-Than-Remarkable People” http://ow.ly/3SOIi by Debra Ellis (@wilsonellis) [Real-world tips] (post)
• When you post something on your Wall, it doesn’t automatically get copied to all your Friends or Fans. This is an excellent overview:   http://www.imediaconnection.com/content.aspx?id=28429 (post)
• “Often in the real world, it’s not the smart that get ahead but the bold.” – Robert Kiyosaki  (post)
• “You must exercise your caution in laying your plans, but be bold in carrying them out.” – P.T. Barnum (post)
• “Every endeavour pursued with passion produces a successful outcome regardless of the result. For it is not about winning or losing—rather, the effort put forth in producing the outcome.” – Matthew Syed (Bounce: Mozart, Federer, Picasso, Beckham, and the Science of Success)  (post)
• “True urgency focuses on critical issues, not agendas overstuffed with the important and the trivial. True urgency is driven by a deep determination to win, not anxiety about losing. With an attitude of true urgency, you try to accomplish something important each day, never leaving yourself with a heart-attack-producing task of running one thousand miles in the last week of the race.” – John P. Kotter  (post)
• Reading: “The Networking Experience” http://ow.ly/3P46R by Dr. Ivan Misner. I totally agree: Networking events are NOT the place to find clients, but rather to connect with people who can refer great clients to you (post)
• “The requirements for achieving great things are two simple but far from easy steps-wisely choosing which policies to pursue and then executing those policies. The difference between success and failure is execution.” – William D. Eggers (post)
• “One can steal ideas, but no one can steal execution or passion.” – David Cohen (post)
• Reading: “One Totally Game-Changing (and Easy) Strategy to Beat Your Competitors” http://ow.ly/3MuQh by @JillKonrath (post)
• Reading: “What Is Your Why?” http://ow.ly/3MuFo by @MarlaTabaka (post)
• Reading: “A 90-Minute Plan For Personal Effectiveness” http://ow.ly/3MuxL by @energy_project Will implement this starting Sunday for a week (post)
• Reading: “The Big Idea: Creating Shared Value” http://ow.ly/3MtQj by @MichaelEPorter – The pursuit of profit vs. creating shared value (post)

For more information

My personal Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/coachdavender

My Facebook Fan Page (“Professional Page”): http://www.facebook.com/FromPassionToProfit

Image Credit: “laikolosse” on Flickr
Direct link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/laikolosse/2712207735/
Used under Creative Commons 2.0 licence

Today I realized that I’ve been blogging quite steadily for five years now (since August 2005). It was a colleague of mine who urged me to explore what blogging is all about. As I saw what others had done, it seemed like a Herculean task. Where to find ideas to blog about?

Luckily for me I started one post at a time. Now, two blogs (this one in English and one in French) and a combined 558 posts later, I think I’m getting the hang of it.

I believe that every solopreneur needs to blog. The currency of the self-employed professional is ideas. Blogging is a powerful way to get ideas out of your head and into the world. Many of my thoughts are half-baked, sometimes the grammar is twisted or the post is not quite logical, that’s okay. A blog is a workshop to prototype your ideas, to test them and see what sticks, both with you and with your readers. By demonstrating how you think and what you are thinking about, you help your prospects to build their trust in you.

My original intention with this post was to come up with my “Top Ten” favorites but as I went through my archives, there were just too many. Instead, here are ten posts (in no particular order) that I think represent my personality and my beliefs:  

• What Gives Me The Right To Interrupt?
  We have the right and the responsiblity to interrupt and influence people to help them become all they can be.
  http://blog.davender.com/2006/01/what-gives-me-the-right-to-interrupt
  
• When Is Spam Spam
  Every contact you have with a prospect should bring something of value to them.
  http://blog.davender.com/2010/03/when-is-spam-spam/
  
• What Comes First, IQ or LQ?
  Do we want a society led by clones of Mr Spock? Or do we want a future shaped by “ordinary people doing extraordinary things”?
  http://blog.davender.com/2007/01/what-comes-first-iq-or-lq/
• Self-Help’s Big Lie?
  The Big Lie of the Self-Help/Law Of Attraction crowd is believing that entitlement comes before effort.
  http://blog.davender.com/2006/01/self-helps-big-lie/
• The High Cost Of Free Money
  The cheapest way to get the money you need is to go out and get clients.
  http://blog.davender.com/2007/09/the-high-cost-of-free-money/
• Nano-economics
  At the interpersonal level where solopreneurs operate, the laws of supply and demand of traditional microeconomics fall apart, because the relationship of trust between you and your client is much stronger.
  http://blog.davender.com/2008/08/nano-economics/
• Greatness is never a given – it must be earned
  If you spoke to inspire the people around you, how would your world change? Would others take you seriously? If not, why not?
  http://blog.davender.com/2009/01/greatness-is-never-a-given-it-must-be-earned/
• Are You A Rainmaker?
  A Rainmaker is someone who makes it rain opportunity for everyone around them.
  http://blog.davender.com/2009/02/are-you-a-rainmaker/
• To Win, Think Tactical
  Strategic thinking focuses on the “what”, and tactical thinking focuses on the “how”.
  http://blog.davender.com/2010/03/to-win-think-tactical/
• It’s our duty to obsess about our own vision
  Life without passion is a life of mediocrity.
  http://blog.davender.com/2009/07/its-our-duty-to-obsess-about-our-own-vision/

I invite you to explore the archives of over 350 posts on this blog and 200 posts on my French blog. Found a post that you like? Please share it in the comments.

For more information

Image credit: Image by Timothy Tsui via Flickr.
Image link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/timothytsuihin/2911283014
Used under Creative Commons 2.0 license

I’m participating in EzineArticles.com Hundred Articles In Hundred Days (HAHD) challenge. My goal is to produce 101 articles between May 1 and August 8 2010, and post them on the article marketing site.

I will be updating older blog posts and articles to submit in this challenge, as well as produce lots of new material based on my coaching as well as personal experience.

You can follow my progress on my wiki at https://visinst-hahd4.pbworks.com or directly on the site at http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Davender_Gupta

It’s still a good time to join me on this challenge. Whether you produce 2, 20 or 120 articles, you will be ahead of everyone else. After all, your certifications don’t mean much to your prospects. It’s only when you become an author that you become an authority!

For more information

The EzineArticles HAHD Challenge: http://blog.ezinearticles.com/2010/04/hahd-4-starts-may1.html

My HAHD wiki site (track my progress): https://visinst-hahd4.pbworks.com/

My EzineArticles page: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Davender_Gupta

The EzineArticles blog by Christopher Knight and the EA team is a valuable source of information and ideas about article marketing. Highly recommended: http://blog.ezinearticles.com/

Follow EzineArticles on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EZINEARTICLES

You have probably received an email that starts:  ”I came across your website and I would like to propose my services…” or “Please pardon the interruption, but I would like to propose our services…”

What is your first gut reaction when you see this? If you’re like me, probably to hit the “delete” button. And if you’re feeling particularly peeved, you might hit the “Identify as Spam” while you’re at it.

But the temptation to send out these kinds of e-mail is huge. You need to let people know that you exist. And everyone is doing it, right?  So why are you still doing it, even if the return on these kinds of campaigns, whether by e-mail, postal mail, telephone, social media update or ad, or other means, is pitiful?

I agree that it’s important to reach out and let people know what you offer. How you do it, though, is the difference between generating indifference or interest. So what is the difference between a message that captures a prospect’s interest and one that turns them off?  When is spam, spam?  

Whenever you plan on sending a promotional e-mail, make a prospecting call or meet someone at a networking event, keep this golden rule firmly in mind:

Every contact you make must bring something of value to the recipient.

If your communication or your contact does not meet this requirement, then it IS spam in the recipient’s eyes, whether it be an e-mail, phone call or in-person encounter, and especially whether you intended it to be spam or not. Spam, therefore, is in the eye of the beholder.

We are bombarded by pitches that do nothing more than interrupt our train of thought. When you offer something of value, with no strings attached, you quickly break through the noise and get noticed.

The “something of value” doesn’t need to be huge. It can be a simple open question, phrase or tidbit to pique their interest.

In my article “Build Your Credibility By Being A Content Creator“, I talk about five ways to add value:

1. Education: lessons and recommendations that emerge from your experience with your customers (for example, case studies);

2. Demonstration: Describe how to do something related to your specialty (for example, this “how to” article);

3. Opinion: Your comments on situations or the news, always related to your specialty and how you want to be known. Your opinion demonstrates how you interpret situations and propose solutions. Be careful to remain respectful and politically neutral;

4. Recommendation: Provide resources (books, articles, videos, contacts) related to your specialty;

5. Information: Communicating news about your specialty, passing along items from the media demonstrating various aspects of what you do (example: a tax specialist passing along news of changes to the law).

The key is to engage the prospect, ask questions, build rapport and credibility, let them find out who you are while you learn about them. Flirt with your prospect before proposing marriage.

Here is an exercise to turn the next annoying interruption you receive (e-mail, phone call or contact) into a learning moment: take a look at the message, and ask yourself: “If I were in the other person’s shoes, how could I reframe the message to bring something of value in the contact?”

When you ensure that your first contact brings something of value to the person you are contacting, you start building good will – the currency of trust. And if it is done right, you end up being able to pre-assess your prospect to see if he or she is a good fit for you. And that’s an important step to getting More and Better Clients.

For more information

This post was inspired by listening to an archived episode of  ”The Age Of Persuasion” available on the CBC Radio site: http://www.cbc.ca/ageofpersuasion/2009/02/season_3_episode_breaking_the.html

I heartily recommend listening to the whole series, Saturdays 10am on CBC Radio One, on Sirius and on the web at
http://www.cbc.ca/ageofpersuasion

The writer and presenter of the series, Toronto copywriter Terry O’Reilly, keeps an interesting blog http://www.terryoreilly.ca/ and Twitter stream http://twitter.com/AgeOfPersuasion

I wrote two essays on the topic of “interruption marketing”:

• Solicitors Will Be Shot On Sight
  http://blog.davender.com/2009/02/solicitors-will-be-shot-on-sight-darn-tootin/
• What Gives Me The Right To Interrupt?
  http://blog.davender.com/2006/01/what-gives-me-the-right-to-interrupt/
  and the updated version on my Facebook Fan Page
  http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=171013738267

Here is the post that discusses how to add value through “content creation”
http://blog.davender.com/2009/07/build-your-credibility-by-becoming-a-content-creator/

Here is a post where I directly address someone who “cold-called” me:
http://blog.davender.com/2009/07/a-candid-letter-to-a-marketing-consultant-who-wants-me-to-hire-her/

And the Monty Python sketch that gave rise to calling Spam, Spam:

Direct link on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_eYSuPKP3Y

I’m fortunate to be part of an amazing circle of people led by Elizabeth Marshall, with a mission to plug you into the hottest ideas in marketing, business and leadership. AuthorTeleseminars.com is a series of teleconference interviews by high-profile authors and thought leaders to bring to your attention important books that are shaping today and tomorrow. Membership in AT is free and you get access to the calls and also the recordings.

The 2010 season starts off particularly strong with two great sessions:

• Publishing Strategist and Author, Janet Goldstein

DATE: Thursday, January 7 at 1 pm Eastern Time

If you are an aspiring author or communicator who wants to write a book and successfully build a following for your idea, join this conversation with publishing strategist and author Janet Goldstein. You will discover six easy and effective steps you can take right away to powerfully proclaim your message.

Specifically, on this call you will learn:

• Three specific action steps you can use to immediately strengthen your idea.
• Three effective ways to build your following (platform) and establish key relationships with strategic partners.

MORE INFO AND REGSTRATION: http://bit.ly/gopubliccall

• Dan Pink, author of the new book “Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us”

DATE: Tuesday, January 12 at 1 pm Eastern Time

Dan’s book “Free Agent Nation” was the catalyst that supported me in taking the decision to go solo. His latest book explores how can keep the passion alive. In this season of resolutions, it is essential to upgrade our understanding of how to motivate ourselves (and others) and discover proven ways to awaken our true motivation and align our actions with our deepest values and desires.

MORE INFO AND REGISTRATION:  http://bit.ly/danpinkcall

Go to the links, save your seat and attend these FREE information-rich calls!

For more information

http://www.authorteleseminars.com (click on the direct links above to go to the specific event pages)

Janet Goldstein:  http://goldsteinjanet.web.officelive.com

Dan Pink:  http://www.danpink.com

“Brown” Santa (the UPS Guy) arrived today with my present to myself, a Flip Ultra HD Pocket Camcorder. I plan to use this to make quick, high-quality videos for my blogs, Facebook and YouTube.

I thought it would be fun to do an “unboxing” video (using my old camera of course), so here goes!

(Video from my Facebook profile http://www.facebook.com/CoachDavender)

For more information

Flip Video: http://www.theflip.com

Lou Bortone is the Online Video Guy. He first showed me the power of the Flip, and continuously inspires me on the subject of Online Video. Check out his resources:
http://www.OnlineVideoBranding.com – Lou’s blog about Online Video
http://www.OnlineVideoMadeEasy.com – Great intro course Lou offers
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lou-Bortones-Flip-Tips-Free-Guide-to-the-Flip-Video-Camera/37030454941 – Lou’s Facebook Fan Page

I started blogging waaaay back in August 2005 after a client nagged me about why I didn’t have a blog. So I started on Blogger, and after 345 posts, that blog is starting to show its age.

So I’m continuing my blogging now using WordPress.

Past blog entries are still available here at http://frompassiontoprofit.blogspot.com I plan to move and update the more important entries to this new blog over the next few weeks.

Why change to WordPress? Like I said, my Blogger stylesheet was starting to look a bit dowdy. Also, even though Blogger is now a Google property, I don’t see my blog entries showing up on Google. Maybe it’s because the blog is in a subdomain of my own hosting, I’m not sure. I’m testing WordPress to see if the SEO works better, and if so, I will be recommending it to my clients.

In the meantime, I look forward to sharing lots of ideas about powering your Vision from Passion to Profit in 2010 and beyond. Happy New Year!