Are So Many Social Sites Necessary??

One concern I hear a lot amongst people today is, “I just don’t have time for another social media site!” That statement is true for some; Once you get really plugged in with one site, such as Twitter, Facebook, or Linked-In, that is where you spend most of your time. You don’t see the purpose of making accounts with other sites, much less spending time there.

I agree with that mind set to an extent, but the truth is Social Media is a baby. We don’t really know to what extent it will grow yet.  With that factor, in my opinion, creating a profile with as many sites that you can, is the best way to go right now.  Sites are still morphing into what they really will become.  Right now I have profiles with dozens of sites, some professional and some personal, although I don’t visit them all daily. Some of them, like Plurk, are not exactly beneficial to me right now, but I created an account anyway because in this new world of Social Media, it could be exactly what I need six months from now!

Another great plus is the link building to your site that you will acquire.  At this point, many social sites are still building their identity, and so for now you could pull contacts in from numerous outlets. You may never know where your links are coming from.  Just get your name out there.  And the quicker you do so, the higher the chance that you will be able to claim the same username across the board.

Twitter and Facebook are staples, much like Google and Yahoo, they won’t be going anywhere; but we have no idea what the next “hot” site will be.  You don’t want to be left behind!  Get your twitter username plugged into any social sites that you feel could become beneficial to you in the future.

Just a Few Social Sites where you can find me are:

Twitter

Facebook

Linked-In

Xanga

Plurk

Squiddo

YouTube

Vimeo

SocialMedian

YELP

FriendFeed

Twitpic

Blip.fm

“But Father, I want to Sing”

Although the title of this blog is a funny line from Monty Python, you, or your child may have said this line at some point in your life; and if so, that is where I come in. I write this blog to let you know that if you or your child has ever shown interest in music, especially voice, I may be just the teacher.

I graduated with a Voice degree from Sam Houston State University in 2006 and immediately began teaching voice. I have taught over 40 students ranging from ages 12 to 45,  at all different levels, from beginner, to people pursuing a more professional career.  I live in North Austin and honestly will be one of the best prices you will find. If you are interested, or you know someone who has wanted to take voice, please pass this along.

Thanks so much!!

enaylor1983(at)gmail. com 512.992.3831

Are You Attracting the Right Thing?

In an article recently published by Dr. Maya Bailey, the idea of your thoughts and intentions playing a part in your success was addressed, along with the concept of what you choose to focus on will determine what you will attract.

If you are not attracting the situations that you would like, maybe it’s time to change your focus.

In Bailey’s article Law of Attraction she addresses how by learning to implement the Law of Attraction you will be able to attract the right type of customer or situation, and therefore create your ideal income.

The Five Easy Steps:

Step 1: Get clear on what you don’t want.

It may seem like a waste of time to focus on the opposite of what you want, but this is actually what people do unconsciously most of the time anyway.

Bailey has found in her 30 years of empowering people to reach their goals, that most people already focus on what they don’t want. Their large amount of bills and small amount of money for example. What they end up getting, is more of what they are focusing on.

So by getting clear on what you don’t want, you can do step two:

Step 2: Get clear on what you do want.

After you have established what you don’t want your company to do, ask yourself, “What do I want my company to do?” Instead of focusing on the large pill of bills and the small amount in your bank account,  beginning focusing on the amount of money who do want; and how to get bills paid off.

According to Bailey’s theory, you will again begin getting more of what you are focusing on.

Step 3: Create your desire statement.

So after you are focusing on what you want, write a statement describing that desire. If you want more money, write “I now have an abundance of prosperity.  I enjoy a comfortable lifestyle with more money coming in then going out. I enjoy buying things and having money leftover to save, etc.”

Step 4: Clear your beliefs.

Bailey calls things that hold you back as self-limiting beliefs. Lies that you tell yourself that keep you from your full potential.  “I don’t deserve it.” Or “No one I know makes that kind of money, why should I?” Your own negative thoughts are sabotaging you and your growth potential.  What is keeping you from success with your clients? What are your self-limiting beliefs?

Find these negative beliefs and clear then out of your mind.  Get them out of your thought process. They are poison to your productivity.

Step 5: Allow it to come to you.

Put another way, don’t doubt yourself. Trust your gut and following your instinct. Keep focus on what you want, and what and who you want to attract.

Here’s to a productive, Fulfilling 2009.

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Jordan and I singing ‘Lucky’

Hey Everyone, since Saturday was an overcast, cold day we decided to play around, and recorded this.  The original song is by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat.  Hope you enjoy our little version of it.  Sorry if you can hear our puppy in the back ground…

Obama Supporter Epidemic…

Yes, I do realize that we have known for some time now that Obama won, but I found this video today.  I LOVED it and wanted to share it with you….Enjoy!!

Just click the link below…

Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are

To Respect or Not to Respect…No Longer the Question.

Last year I wrote a blog post revolving around respect.  How respect is to be earned and what kind of man has earned my respect.  Well I felt another post was needed due to my new understanding of respect.  Sure, our society says that respect is something that has to be earned.  What a man or woman does equals the amount of respect they get.  Although woman need respect this post is about men. Men need respect differently than women.  If you don’t believe me think about this.  If you are a woman, just imagine your husband or boyfriend saying to you, “I respect you dear, you do a great job with your career or kids, etc; But I don’t love you.”  You would be crushed. This is the exact same thing to a woman saying to her husband or boyfriend, “I love you honey, but I just don’t respect you.”  We all need love and respect, yes, but women need love more than respect, and men need respect more than love.

This brings me to why I wanted to re-write my respect post.  The bible states in Ephesians 5:22-30 That women should respect their husbands and husbands are to love your wife.  Did you notice that women are told to respect, not love.  And men are told to love, not respect.  We are commanded to do the opposite of what we naturally do.  I have been reading Love & Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs and have been reading about this concept of unconditional respect!  Not unconditional love, which we learn from youth, but unconditional respect!

As a wife, I know I do not always deserve love.  I am moody, selfish and sometimes flat out mean. But if my husband treats me un-lovingly I am shocked and feel like a failure.  My husband may not always deserve respect either, but if I am dis-respectful he feels shocked and like a failure as well.

Eggerichs teaches about cycles.  The first is called the Crazy Cycle.  Without Love – She Reacts – Without Respect – He Reacts – Without Love – etc. on and on.  The second cycle is The Energizing Cycle.  His Love – Motivates – Her Respect – Motivates – His Love – etc.  See how both him loving and her respecting makes the circle go around.  Relationships are not going to flow right if women pour out love only, and if men only give respect.

But like I said this post is about respect.  What we as women need to get in our heads is that our men deserve our unconditional respect regardless of how you feel, just like you want unconditional love, regardless of how your partner may feel.

The third cycle that Eggerichs teaches is The Rewarded Cycle.  This is the hardest cycle to grasp because it is requires you to do to your part regardless of what your partner does.  His Love – Regardless of – Her Respect – Regardless of – Her Love… This is hardest thing for any of us to do.  I have only been married for 6 months, and I will tell you, it’s been the hardest six months of my life.  If anyone thinks that they don’t struggle with selfishness or pride, let them get married.  The Rewarded Cycle is something both my husband and I would love to get to but we’re not there yet.  Being able to put your own needs and desires aside, such as your needed love and respect, can be the hardest thing you will ever do.

I am no where near the wife I want to be.  I am prideful, and selfish; and honestly, I have a hard time with the concept of unconditional respect, but if you go back to Ephesians 5 a wonderful verse comes right before the commands.  Vs. 21 “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”  I am trying to adopt this concept of unconditional respect because of my love for Christ.  In reverence to Him, I will respect my husband.  Whether I “feel” loved or not.

So there is my new understanding of respect.  It is not based off of what he does, my husband will be respected because I serve Christ.

The Year of the Blog 2009

So I have decided that 2009 is going to be my year to blog. I have never been a blogger but I have always heard that I write like I am talking, so here goes…

My goal in my blog is to be transparent. I want to be the same online as I am off. I plan on putting anything and everything on my blog as well, so hopefully there will be a little something for everyone.

I’ll blog about music, real estate, social media, places I like, places I don’t, Christianity and much more…I will also re-post articles I really enjoy, so some of you may be re-posted here too

I’m new to this…So here’s goes, 2009!!

13 Lessons My Customers Taught Me Last Year

My sister works for one of the largest corporations in the world today,Marriott International.Although this article was written for this large corporation it might as well been written directly to small business owners across the country. Scott Ginsberg has nailed it on the head. Below is his assessment of what his customers taught him in 2008. I know applying these concepts in 2009 will drastically improve my relationships with clients; hopefully you find it as beneficial as I did!

by: Scott Ginsberg

When I conduct workshops or training sessions, I like to finish up with a little exercise called Postcard Commitment. Here’s how it works:

1. First, blank postcards are passed out to all attendees. They are instructed to self-address them.

2. Then, they are given five minutes to write on the back ONE THING they learned during the program that they are committed to practicing in the next six months.

3. Next, the music starts. There is no talking. There is no sharing. It’s a private exercise. People are free to write as much or as little as they want.

4. When five minutes is up, the music stops. Then, attendees are required to turn in their postcards in the back of the room when the program is complete.

5. Finally, I take the postcards back to my office when I get home. I throw them in a box. Six to twelve months later, I pull the box out, stick a stamp on each postcard and mail it back to the attendee. Ultimately, the purpose of the exercise is to provide a check-up on how everyone’s practice is coming along.

It’s a pretty cool activity, even though I can’t exactly take credit for coming up with it. (I totally stole this little exercise from my friends @ Brains on Fire.)

Anyway, what’s REALLY cool is when I actually get to READ the postcards.

This happened last week…

I sat down with a nice cup of Tazo and began sticking stamps on about 600 postcards. (Thank GOD they were self-adhesive.) And during the process, I couldn’t help but notice some pretty powerful stuff written by my workshop attendees. In fact, some of the people’s thoughts were SO good; I simply HAD to make a list of the ones that caught my attention.

I know. Scott made another list. Shocking.

BUT HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED: People didn’t just regurgitate a bunch of one-liners I told them to write down. They actually took the ideas and practices I shared and tailor-made them to their own situations. Cool.

So, I’d like to share thirteen of these reflections with you. What I’ve done is extracted key one-liners from standout postcards, then expanded on each idea myself. Now, I DID promise my participants that I would keep their personal information anonymous. So, before we begin, I’d like to offer a special thanks TO, and give credit FOR, all the individuals whose words inspired me.

NOTE: If you say to yourself as you read this list, Yeah, but I know that already, I challenge you to ask yourself if you’re LIVING that already.

13 Lessons My Customers Taught ME Last Year

1. Become someone people can’t resist. Because you’re THAT interesting. Because you’re THAT good of a listener. Because you’re THAT creative. Because you’re THAT passionate. Because you’re THAT relaxed and calm and cool. Who wants to sit in your radius?

2. Believe that you are welcome everywhere. This is the kind of attitude people need to SEE on your face as you enter a room. As if to project, ‘I am excited to be here’ ­ I am going to meet cool people today­ I am welcome wherever I go. It’s about maintaining the belief that people will like you for the YOU that you are. And if they don’t, screw ®em. Don’t take it personally. There’s no accounting for good taste. Where are you gently inviting yourself?

3. Consistency brings people back. It builds trust through emotional reliability. It builds predictability, which is safe and attractive and inviting. Consistency also reinforces character, a quality that is sorely absent from WAY too many people’s daily practices. Are you the same person online and offline?

4. Don’t change yourself to make other people comfortable. Sure, you adapt to the situation to honor the needs and traditions of others. BUT, you remain true to yourself. Remember: Just because someone’s sense of self is threatened by your personhood doesn’t mean you need to change EVERYTHING to make them happy. Whom are you changing for?

5. Don’t just BE passionate; STAY passionate. That’s the hard part – keeping it up. And you have to regularly monitor yourself – spy on yourself even- to assure the fire doesn’t go out. Ask questions like, Am I being passionate enough in this moment? Whose passion could I invest in today? and How could I re-ignite my passion today? That should help you infuse passion everywhere. How are you rekindling your inner fire?

6. Listen more, react less. The biggest barrier to listening is emotional reactivity. Interestingly, the word emotion comes from the Latin emotere, which means, To disturb. Which TOTALLY makes sense. After all: Emotions disturb your mind, your stillness and your awareness; emotions disturb the conversation, the listening process and the energy field between two people. Just chill. What is preventing you from listening deeply to this person?

7. Listen to who you are before responding. An audience member of mine suggested this during a recent workshop. Blew the entire group away. What a concept! Can you imagine how honest, how authentic and how approachable people would be if they remembered to do this in their conversations? Man. Listen to who you are before responding. It bears repeating. Are you listening to yourself first?

8. Love people who aren’t like you. Jesus comes to mind immediately. He regularly sought out, listened to and hung with undesirable individuals like tax collectors and prostitutes. He didn’t care. They were just people to him. And everybody was shocked. Like this was some terrible act. Ha! What do you see when you see people?

9. Normal is unnoticeable. So is boring. So is average. You need to take stock of your current daily practices in sales, service, leadership, marketing, whatever and ask yourself how many things you’re doing that everyone else is ALSO doing. Hopefully, this number won’t be very high. If it is, you’ve got work to do. How are you breaking people’s patterns?

10. Passion diffuses defensiveness. Probably because passion is so deep and so true, that when it surfaces, there’s just too much beauty to be resisted. I don’t care WHO you are, I don’t care WHAT sets you on fire when passion is involved, the rules change. How are you infusing your passion into everything you do?

11. Smiles initiate conversation. Even been stared at by a stranger? It can be awkward, but only if you make it so. As someone who gets stared at a lot, I’ve discovered that the simplest solution to this potentially uncomfortable situation is to: (1) Look the person directly the eye, (2) Smile, (3) Wave (if they’re at the right distance) and (4) Wait.

In most cases, the person will either smile back or start a conversation with you. And if they don’t, no sweat. Go back to what you were doing. They might even approach you later. Either way, you’ll feel great because you practiced friendliness. How do you transform awkwardness into approachability?

12. Start collecting questions. Really? You don’t keep a running list of your favorite questions? Oh man. You’re missing out. Totally cool exercise. Great for ANY profession. I suggest using Microsoft Word. Be sure to categorize the questions by topic. My approach is to include a three-letter description of the category before each question, i.e., MKT How many people are part of your permission asset? This enables alphabetical sorting (Tools Sort Paragraph), which enables quick access and efficient organization. How many questions are in your collection? (Mine has 6200!)

13. Teach only after you’ve listened completely. It’s respectful. It’s approachable. It assures you have all the information you need. It also increases the likelihood that someone else will listen to you. Because you did it first. When was the last time you listened all the way through to an idea that made you uncomfortable?

LET ME ASK YA THIS¡­
What lessons did your customers teach your this year?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS…
For the list called, “71 Things Customers Don’t Want to Hear You Say,” send an email to me, and I’ll send you the list for free!

Scott Ginsberg -That Guy with the Nametag – Author, Speaker, Coach, Entrepreneur
scott@hellomynameisscott.com

Scott Ginsberg, aka “The Nametag Guy,” is the author of three books and a professional speaker who helps people maximize approachability, become unforgettable and make a name for themselves. To book Scott for your next association meeting, conference or corporate event, contact Front Porch Productions at 314/256-1800

We Need A Honeymoon!!

Some would describe my love story as a fairy tale, while others would describe it as a nightmare.  Sure we have had moments of both, but those who know my husband and I know our love is real if nothing else, and we are prepared to take the bad along with the good.

We met two years ago while I was teaching private voice lessons at a High School here in town.  I was the teacher and he was the student.  Before you fall off your seats, we did not begin a relationship in that scenario.  I just fell in love with him through the music we created and the friendship we developed during the process.

He became my best friend, and I knew that even though there was a 6 1/2 year age difference he was going to change my life forever.  As our relationship became public people did not take it as we had hoped.  No one approved and as we tried to get footing in a new relationship every thing around us fell apart.  We lost both of our families, two of my jobs, and most of our friends.  All we had left was each other.  We we’re poor, scared and dealing with things way out of our maturity level.  This is where the nightmare scenario comes into play.  As everything seemed to be a disaster we clung to one another.  But our love just grew through the trials making it possible to be where we are today.

Through the next year we began to re-build broken relationships around us and get settled into sanity.  Although my family came around rather quickly, we were married this past July at the Justice of the Peace with only my sister as a witness.

The fairy tale is what we are currently living!  We both have jobs we love, a beautiful little duplex, a precious dog, and a wonderful relationship with my family.  Unfortunately, the past year has put us in a place where taking a vacation to celebrate our marriage is impossible.  Hopefully this will change that.  Thanks!

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p15310

Wall-e…what!?!

Warning…Before reading on… movie spoilers below!!!!

So I just returned from a wonderful…scratch that…eventful afternoon seeing Wall-e with my niece and nephew. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for being green, but when did the top environmentalists get together and decide that Hollywood as a whole needed to go green? Standing ovation to this idea, sure. Why not? Due to the fact it is one million degrees outside most of us are flocking to the theaters, so rightly so that is where they should bombard us with Eco-friendly ideas.

So here we are with a very cute little robot cleaning up after humans because we are all to lazy to do it ourselves. Nice. Humans are seen as materialistic hungry animals that flee the scene just in time and leave little, sweet Wall-e behind to clean things up. So there ya go kids…pick up your trash and recycle. Oh wait…it gets better. As we drift away from the destroyed planet earth we find ourselves on a “cruise” spaceship where the humans are living while the little wall-es clean up. And oh my, here we go…Obesity. All the humans have been riding scooters for 700 years and have forgotten how to walk. Plus, they’re huge. Now in the span of an hour and a half we have taught our children to protect the environment and their bodies. Please don’t think I’m against taking care of the environment or our children’s little bodies but I do find it sad that Hollywood now has to do it because parents aren’t. Well, I guess if they get it from someone… So here’s to being green….and healthy.

Oh and for the adults of these children seeing Wall-e and who weren’t convinced to become green…go see The Happening…Marky Mark running from the wind because our poor environmental decisions pissed of the trees! On second thought…just stick to Wall-e