Tag Archives: community

Win a Year of myGreenlight – Scholarship Contest

13 comments By Professional Development

We want everyone to have access to amazing relational capital, so today we kick off our second scholarship contest. The winner will receive a FREE one-year unlimited membership to myGreenlight.

This prize, worth $699 (!), includes unlimited access to all of myGreenlight’s resources.

  • 3-course core curriculum
  • Field-tested Relationship Action Planning tool
  • 15+ hours of webinars and masterclasses, on everything from presentation skills to body language to social media branding
  • Multimedia Coaching Resource Center
  • Hundreds of samples, templates, and articles on-demand
  • Weekly newsletter to help sustain progress
  • Monthly live Social Capitalist Event with leading business thought leaders
  • Access to our alumni directory
  • Moderated community forums
  • Lifeline Group Recruiting and Accountability tool
PLUS the winner will receive all 3 of our Kickstart Bonus Courses
  • Five Steps to Relational Capital that Closes the Deal
  • Career Advancement: Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile
  • Entrepreneur’s Launch Kit

Each BONUS package includes an easy-to-implement action sequence with myGreenlight support materials – rocket fuel as you build your tailored network to make your dreams reality.

To win – submit your entry in the comments below. Tell us about your biggest relationship or networking-related challenge and what you will achieve with the relationship skills you develop during the course. The most compelling response (as judged by Community Manager Kibibi Springs and Program Director Sara Grace) will receive the scholarship.

What would YOU do if you could build the relationships that wouldn’t let you fail?  Tell us!

Entries must be received by April 6th at 5PM Eastern Time.  Good luck!

For more information about myGreenlight, including access to our Spring Special deal ($200 off of the regular price) - click here.  If you enroll and then win the scholarship, your tuition will be refunded in full – so don’t wait!

Simon Mainwaring Explains How Your Brand Can Jump Back from Negative Social Media

No Comments By The Social Capitalist

Never Eat Alone co-author Tahl Raz interviewed marketing consultant, author, and speaker Simon Mainwaring about his book, We First: How Brands and Consumers Use Social Media To Build a Better World, for the Social Capitalist. Here’s the audio recording and full transcript. MyGreenlight member and marketing consultant Colleen Newvine submitted this question during the interview:

“You’re building or architecting this community, but what happens when you’re hit with criticism or negativity, or some of the dark side that we hear about, or I’ve actually felt, in social media? How do you deal with negativity in social media? How have you dealt with it?”

Simon: I think it’s a great thing and I’ve had it, too. I get everything from being dismissed as some sort of crazy, commie-idealist, through to being put on the Republican watch list, through to I had a gentleman get very angry with me because I wrote a piece about whether video games increase teen violence. He was very angry with me, which to me rather proved the point. But, anyway, you always will encounter that. As soon as you open yourself up to public scrutiny, you’re going to have those who support you and those who don’t, and that’s fine.

What I do is I welcome it. I’ve been taken to task by people over various issues many times and rather than be reactionary and defensive, what you try and do is say, “Great. Someone is pointing out something that many people are already thinking,” or, “They’re highlighting a way that I need to improve my product or service if I’m really going to be authentic.” Continue reading →

MyGreenlight’s Community Manager Shares The Reasons She’s a Believer

No Comments By Professional Development, Success Stories

Hi Greenlight Community!

We’re announcing a new promotion today, and I wanted to give you my personal take on why I think signing up for the myGreenlight program will be the best thing you ever do for your career.

As you’ve probably begun to notice, the world operates through relationships. Whether you’re a natural connector or not, a deeper understanding of the science behind human interaction can only equip you with more weapons in your career arsenal.

Over the past two years I have taken a strong professional communication skill set to new heights by applying the relationship mastery principles taught in the myGreenlight program. My touch points with Greenlight Community members have deepened my understanding of how a variety of personality types successfully utilize our training to reach their career goals. It’s been an exciting two years of discovery, hearing stories from those motivated to make a necessary change for themselves and their careers.

People like….

Aimee Lucas, an admitted introvert, who found inspiration in the Blue Flame principle and used it to guide her connection goals and advance her career.

Mike Bruny who uses generosity to truly connect with like-minded people and gain entry to opportunities that allow him to pursue his passion to inspire young entrepreneurs to reach their dreams.

Sandra Lester, whose commitment to get an accountability buddy for networking opened doors to opportunities she hadn’t even imagined for herself and positioned her as a trusted expert in her industry and giving her the ability to receive more job leads.

As I have seen these success stories unfold, I can very confidently say that I truly believe anyone willing to put in the work to engage in the myGreenlight program and complete the missions can gain massive benefits.

This is a perfect time to join myGreenlight at a discounted rate.  And our Spring promotion is open to anyone. If you know someone who is ready to improve their relationship game, please share the link with them. If that person is you, join us!

Check out the promotion here – a $200 savings on our regular rates and unlimited access to all of the proven resources of myGreenlight.

Have questions about the program? Use the comments and I’ll answer them.

Relationship Roundup

No Comments By Tips

This week in the Roundup: managing email, the happiness factor, apps that save you social time, trips for content strategy, and spring cleaning your network. Enjoy!

Email etiquette – Breaking through email noise is probably one of the most pressing professional challenges today. Managing email noise is the other. CBS MoneyWatch gives some great advice for avoiding some common faux pas’. Read more here http://bit.ly/GH9K6H.

Happiness is making a comeback – Happy to see that employers are becoming more concerned about worker satisfaction. Thanks to corporate front runners like Patagonia and Zappos, the bottom line on happiness is more than just a figment of the imagination. Read the story here http://bit.ly/zXc1tq.

There really is an app for that! – A couple of weeks ago we shared some apps to manage your network. While this doesn’t exactly do that, it can help you weed through undesirable social terrains and maximize your fun time. Check it out here http://bit.ly/A4rSks.

Strategies for great social content – Your online social content is your relationship calling card so to speak. Being strategic about your approach to developing those relationships can be strange and unfamiliar. SmartBrief contributor Jeremy Victor gives some great tips for creating an effective strategy. Read them here http://bit.ly/xtWpAf.

Time for spring cleaning? – It’s inevitable that you’re going to make a mistake about letting someone toxic into your network and be required to do the necessary clean up.  Hopefully, before it involves too many others. Amy Levin Epstein gives some insight on who to give the boot!  Read it here http://bit.ly/GBDvoK.

Kibibi Springs is myGreenlight’s Community Director.

Guest Blog: Ad Sales Executive Puts Never Eat Alone/myGreenlight Tactics in Action

1 comment By Success Stories

Scott Olson is the director of marketing at Mediaspace Solutions, a marketing services agency bringing national brands to local markets. Mediaspace maximizes advertising budgets, increases ROI, and reduces operational drag through expert talent, incredible service and proven buying strategies. Our ‘What’s on Tap’ blog is updated twice a week and we’re regularly tweeting business to business marketing and advertising news.

In his best selling book Never Eat Alone Keith Ferrazzi sums up the argument for developing greater relationships when he says, “Life is less a quest than a quilt. We find meaning, love, and prosperity through the process of stitching together our bold attempts to help others find their own way in their lives. The relationships we weave become an exquisite and endless pattern,” (Never Eat Alone, 2005, p. 297, emphasis added).

Recently the Mediaspace Solutions business development group went through Ferrazzi’s book as a group in an effort to put what we learned into practice. Below are a few examples of both what’s been done and the sometimes immediate results we have experienced:

  • Small Gestures Big Impact – While on a recent trip to NYC, I decided to build a relationship with two CEO’s of major ad agencies. As part of the due diligence up front, I found out their favorite kind of wine by talking to their assistants. I purchased wine as gifts but bought Starbucks gift cards for their assistants. Both assistants were blown away by the gesture. “We never get any gifts” one said. I had two sincere conversations with two smart women and I now have regular communications with both of them. The key was being genuine and generous with no expectations in return. They are now on my “ping list” for regular communications. Keith’s teachings work. Continue reading →

You’re in Permanent Beta, So Let Your Network Help

No Comments By Professional Development

In a recent NPR interview with LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman about his new book, The Start-Up of You, he makes this great point about personal branding:

We are in a “permanent beta…you’re always investing in yourself. You’re always adapting. You’re not a finished product.”

He also suggests that your network plays a vital role in helping you keep current. He advises, “go out to lunch with different folks, go out to lunch with people from other departments, from other companies, and explicitly address questions like: How do you see the industry changing? What do you think is happening? How do you do your job effectively? Is there anything I should learn from that in terms of how do I do my job effectively? That’s how you adapt to the future, and you stay current.” (We recommend a similar approach in all three myGreenlight courses, but especially Course III: The Learning Action Plan.)

Throughout the article, Hoffman talks about the impact that the people that he worked with years ago (he calls them “the PayPal crew”) have had on each other’s careers. He even goes on to state that he believes that his network is part of the reason for his success.

“I think the really key thing is to realize that relationships are like alliances,” Hoffman says.

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Do you make a conscious effort to cultivate new learning from your peers? If not, how do you stay ahead of the curve?

Ritu Walia is myGreenlight’s Member Coordinator.

Special Announcement for myGreenlight Members

No Comments By Learning

Community Roundtable Call

The Community Roundtable will bring together five community members around one business topic to assist each other in creating solutions for their current business challenges. The topic for March will focus on building relationships in sales.

Members of the roundtable will each have the opportunity to submit their most challenging issue related to the topic and their best set of resources to address the challenges of other members.  The call will take place on Tuesday, March 27th at 6:00pm EST on WebEx.

To be considered for one of the five positions on this month’s Roundtable, email me at ksprings at mygreenlight.com the following:

  • Submit a short professional bio.
  • A paragraph explaining why you want to participate.
  • One question that you want to put on the table related to the topic.

Participants will be selected based on the best mix of professional backgrounds and challenges in order to maintain a diverse set of perspectives and experiences for the group. If selected, participants will be required to:

  • Submit 3-5 resources one week prior to the meeting to help address the collective questions of the group.
  • Participate in the one hour 15 minute call on March 27th.

All Roundtables will be recorded and transcribed for members’ future use.

Course Intensives

Are you behind on a course? Trying to get ahead in a course? In need of coaching through a course? If any of these fit where you are in the myGreenlight program, one of our upcoming Course Intensives is for you. Between April and May, I will be coaching small groups through courses in an effort to:

  • Provide a one-on-one coaching opportunity.
  • Facilitate connections between community members.
  • Gather feedback on our newest course, the Learning Action Plan.

Participants must agree to:

  • Complete two lessons per week over a five week period between April 2nd and May 4th.
  • Participate in weekly coaching calls.

Weekly coaching calls may take place on a weekend or evenings to accommodate all group member participation. Groups will consist of 3-5 members.  Members may only participate in one Course Intensive at a time.

If you are interested in participating in a Course Intensive, email me at ksprings at mygreenlight.com by March 15th.

The One Factor that Ensures Your Kid’s College Success. And Now Yours.

2 comments By The Social Capitalist

In 1986, Harvard’s then-president, Derek Bok, wanted to know if there was a way to predict whether a kid would succeed or fail in college. What was different about those who kicked ass as undergrads? Bok wasn’t really interested in improving the school’s admissions process. Harvard, after all, already annually fielded a freshman class that was, according to just about every measurable metric, the nation’s best.

What Bok wanted to learn is whether the school could study those kids who transformed those early exceptional metrics into exceptional performance, making the most of their four years in college, and apply those lessons to changing how Harvard served all of its students. A large-scale study was conducted over the course of several years and one finding in particular surprised everyone. Continue reading →

An Unlikely, and Enjoyable, Networking Guide

3 comments By Research

I am currently reading the book MWF Seeking BFF, by Rachel Bertsche. I originally picked it up because it was getting a great deal of buzz, and also because, as an aspiring blogger myself, I am intrigued by the 52 Something in a Year genre.

But as I began to read, it became clear that what I expected to be a fluffy retelling of 52 wine-soaked girl nights was actually chock full of the same kind of relationship research that we used to build myGreenlight.

Chicago-based Bertsche sets out to try every possible channel to make new adult friends. While her ultimate goal is to meet a new, geographically-appropriate BFF (“best friend forever”, for anyone unfamiliar with the lingo) to augment her college and childhood friends in New York, what she effectively does is build a broad and diverse network of friends, acquaintances, and possible future resources.

By the midpoint of the book, she has a social schedule to rival Keith Ferrazzi himself.

In the process, she meets many people who share her desire to connect with more friends, but who are unsure of how to make it happen.

For so much of our lives, we depend on fate to deliver friends to us. When you are in elementary school, the boy next door is your best friend because he’s most convenient. The girl who sits next to you in English class becomes your confidant because you are working on the same projects. Sororities and fraternities provide a steady pipeline of social comrades during our college years.

Once we get to “real” life we are so comfortable with taking the friends who happen across our paths, that taking explicit steps to meet the people we want to spend time with feels artificial and contrived. But through Bertsche’s experience, it is clear that relationships built from purposeful outreach are just as genuine, and significantly more abundant, than the ones that happen by accident.

One long, slow dinner, coffee date, and yoga class at a time, she builds true friendships with a significant number of her prospective girlfriends. And along the way she makes frequent reference to the research that backs up the key success factors in growing real relationships – self-disclosure, supportiveness, interaction, and positivity.

The key takeaway is that purposefully seeking out connection is an effective way to expand your social circle, and real relationships are worth investing some effort.

Have you ever had to start over with building your social circle? How did you do it?

From Renewable Energy in Ukraine to State-of-the-Art Airport Parking in Seattle

37 comments By Success Stories

Last week I asked my Tip of the Week Community to tell me about yourself and the cool stuff you’re working on. You guys BOWLED US OVER with your answers to my question, “What’s the coolest thing you’re working on?

From renewable energy in Ukraine to state-of-the-art airport parking in Seattle, you guys are up to some amazing things. Below, see a cut of some of the most interesting. (If you’re not on it, it doesn’t mean your project isn’t great – this is just a quick sampling!)

I bet there’s things you’ll see on that list that will inspire you, as they did me – or things that you know you could help with. Now imagine being part of a learning community surrounded by people who feel just like you do – inspired and wanting to help. THAT is what I’m creating with myGreenlight, along with the program itself: an incredible action-based curriculum, tons of tools and resources, and a smart, knowledgeable staff.

Soon we’ll be announcing another limited-time special membership offer for the Tip of the Week list only. Please give it a read and consider the program for yourself. (If you’d like to join that list, subscribe at keithferrazzi.com in the top right corner.)

If you see your project on the list below, and would like to identify yourself and add the URL in the comments, go for it! And if you’re not on the list, please comment to share the coolest thing YOU’RE working on! Continue reading →