10 Things Your Mother Taught You

We have all heard those famous sayings such as “because I said so” or “go ask your father!” But what about the motherly advice that actually taught us something? Keeping with the social media theme here are some tips that your mother should take credit for.

1. Everything has a home. On one of her many cleaning rants my mother would always pull a shoe out of the couch or a toy out of the Tupperware drawer and tell me, “Everything in this house has a home, put it there!” The same is true of your social media sites. Potential clients and business partners do not want to see pictures of last weekend’s bachelorette party any more than your mother likes to pick up dirty socks off of the living room floor. In the social media world, there is a place for everything. Keep your personal life and your business life separate.

2. Practice makes perfect. How many times did we hear this as children? Practice is the key to any success, large or small, in the social media world. As we try to figure out this new virtual marketplace, it is clear that there is no single “win-win” strategy for all of social media marketing. Instead there are smaller strategies combined with personalized business practices and trial and error to come up with a customized plan that works for both you and your business. There is no right and wrong way to market yourself on social media and it is up to you to find what fits best with your business’ mission and values. So in the words of your mother, “Try, try, try again!”

3. What is your plan? You always had to inform your mother what your plans were so why should it be any different on social media? Many businesses make the mistake of throwing themselves into social media marketing and pulling themselves in any route the keyboard takes them. Always have a plan. Without a plan a business can push itself in so many directions that all impact and effect on consumers is lost. Decide who your target market is, how you would like to reach them and with what source, and build from there.

4. Eat your vegetables. “Eat your vegetables, they are good for you!” Yes, well so is social media marketing, even if you don’t think so at first. Many people are skeptical to enter the ever evolving, fast paced world of social media, and because of this they give up before they even begin. The truth is that you may not like it, but it is good for you. So take a bite out of social media marketing like you did with your vegetables: one forkful at a time. Begin with a smaller portion until you can handle its taste, and gradually you will get used to its flavor and can pile more on your plate the next time. And just as your mother says, how do you know you don’t like it if you have never tried it?

5. Don’t talk with your mouth full, no one can understand you. Just as you learned to make a plan for social media marketing, you must also learn to market in moderation. Many businesses jump on the social media wagon and begin shooting millions of posts, ideas, campaigns, and promotions at consumers, hoping that one of them sticks. Slow down. Take smaller bites. Speak clearly. Think about what it is you are really trying to say and focus on getting this message out effectively. When we talk with our mouths full we lose influence and effect on potentially wonderful followers.

6. Treat everyone the way you want to be treated. Ah yes, the Golden Rule. It is easy to forget that we are dealing with real people on the other end of the screen, people that want to be treated with kindness and respect (just as you do). Without face to face interaction it is easy to be bold and to say things that you would not normally express in a live conversation. Yes it is ok to push the envelope, but remember that you are dealing with potential followers who may eventually turn into potential clients. Always follow the Golden Rule.

7. Use your manners. “Now, what do you say?” These were the words I would hear every Christmas Eve after frantically tearing through presents from aunts and uncles at our annual Christmas party. “Thanks!” Never forget to use your manners in social media. Make sure to thank your followers and show your appreciation for their support. Followers like to feel that they are valued (with good reason) so make sure you show them this by replying to their comments, thanking them for their support, and writing posts specifically tailored to their interests. Your followers should be a priority as they are the ones to share and recommend your business to others.

8. Don’t sit so close to the screen! Your mother always told you that sitting too close to the television or computer screen was harmful, so take a step back. Many times a business struggles with social media because they are too close to the action and they can’t seem to step away and view the work for what it is instead of what they want it to be. They get too caught up in all of the clutter and hype that their strategy becomes muddied and their influence lost. So bring in a fresh pair of eyes that can give an unbiased opinion. Distance yourself from the project and take the time to remind yourself of your mission, plan, and goals.

9. Don’t cry over spilt milk. The goal of social media is to get followers talking, but you might not like what all of them have to say. Criticism is a constant in the business world and is something that pushes us to work harder. Do not be upset if you receive a couple bad comments; instead use this as motivation to keep up the good work. Your presence online is being noticed and all of the commotion will only bring more traffic to your site and more followers to your business.

10. Be yourself. While struggling through adolescence and the perils of growing up you mother always told you one thing: be yourself. Social media is all about getting to know and trust the organizations we do business with. Consumers now like to become attached to not only the product but to the brand as well, and will not be easily fooled by advertising schemes. So don’t try to change who you are online. Talk as you would in a face to face conversation, and don’t be afraid to discuss things other than business. Being yourself is what got you this far, so why stop now?

Challenges

As my intern and I enter into our final week of the grueling Body Quest Boot Camp, we are both anxious for the sweat and ache that is waiting for us on the field. Each morning we arrive at 6 o’clock to fight against the bugs, the mountain, the elements and ourselves in a battle for fitness. From the loud (sometimes tough) encouragement of our instructors and fellow boot campers we push our bodies past exhaustion to a brink that we did not realize we could reach. Just when we cease to believe that we can muscle through the last push up, sprint the last lap or hold the last plank something inside pushes us to the end -- a powerful determination from within. With our teammates cheering us through the last exercises, we find a second wind to battle on. By the end of the strenuous hour we stretch our sweat covered limbs with a smile, somehow energized and strengthened for the coming day.

We all face tough patches in life. Whether it is our health and wellness, our relationships, or our work it is inevitable that we feel frustrated at some point. Sometimes rough moments can be avoided and sometimes they can’t, but it is how we push through these difficult times that make us who we are.

Greek philosopher Epictetus once said, “the greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it.” We are measured by our ability to weather the storm and our resilience and focus to push towards the other side. Without difficult times to drive us forward how can we be challenged to grow? How can we become stronger as a friend, a parent, a co-worker, a business owner or as a person?

By facing these daily challenges both large and small, we fortify our core values to become stronger as individuals. Although it may take a large amount of effort and determination, the pride we feel for our accomplishments at the end is undeniable. From these testing experiences we learn from our mistakes, challenge ourselves and others, to flourish.

What is your rough patch? Maybe it is a difficult client, a hard decision, a scary opportunity or business venture. Face these challenges and know that the experience will provide for growth within your business and its surrounding marketplace. And remember that no matter how ominous a problem may seem there is always someone cheering you on from the sidelines.

Change is always in the air

A beautiful spring turned into summer last Monday; I was reminded of the eternal changes of the seasons. Four times every year we experience a change in our surroundings and ultimately, our lifestyle. Warm summers spent outside in the bright sunshine never fail to turn into cold winters where we retreat to the warmth of home and shelter from the elements. We accept these changes as part of life and adapt to live in these four different seasons accordingly. So why are we afraid of change outside of this universal lifecycle?

We live in fear of change. Change deals with the unknown, a territory that is an uncharted challenge. We avoid unknown because it is comfortable and safe within familiar borders. But if we never venture outside of our boundaries, how can we improve? If we stay safe within the known, we may miss precious experiences and opportunities that we did not dream possible.

Fear of change applies to the business world as well. In today’s uncertain economy, a safe harbor is hard to find. We can’t rely on familiar business practices and customs as the world shrinks with globalization and a shifting marketplace. The only familiar aspect of today’s fluctuating environment is change itself. As individuals and business people, we must use change as a tool to better ourselves and our community. Yes the unknown is scary, but it is inevitable. If used as a weapon of choice rather than a preconceived hindrance it will foster improvements to the struggling economy.

Just as we adapt to the turning of the seasons, we must adapt to our shifting marketplace. The only thing we can count on is change; embrace it. The challenge of change will open doors to improvement and growth. Conquer that fear and step into the unknown, you might be surprised by what you find.

Fear as a Virtue

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear. Mark Twain

Like most emotions fear runs on a continuum from mild discomfort to terror. It serves as a warning in all of its forms. Some fears are irrational, some can be terrifying and some are indications of opportunity. In life threatening situations fear drives our response mechanisms and triggers adrenalin levels that enhance our survival skills. But what role does fear play in our business life?

The answer depends on how willing you are to listen to fear indicators, respond to them and most importantly to overcome them. In business fear most often arises when we are faced with opportunity. We might experience butterflies, anxiety or more than normal doubt. Many of us make the mistake of focusing on the fear rather than the opportunity. Focus on the fear echoes all of the reasons to avoid change.

The opportunity might be the pursuit of a client that is more of a challenge than you are used to; it might be an option to partner with someone new, to launch a new aspect of your business, or move to a new location. Any opportunity is a challenge to the status quo and that challenge is manifested in the mild discomfort of low range fear.

Those butterflies are telling you something, but are you willing to listen? To listen is to analyze your confidence in your ability to grow your business. To listen to the fear or your instincts is review your goals and confront the courage necessary to fulfill them. How many times have you heard someone say, “I could have ……” That opener is to frequently the encore to regret. As in your personal life view every opportunity in the context of how sorry will I be if I don’t do it?

Fear’s role at this level is to maintain the status quo not to provide the adrenalin necessary to move forward. The status quo is comfortable but it does not provide the challenges needed to grow, develop and achieve the next level of success. Fear complacency not opportunity.