Wandering through the Woods

I just got done reading Dawud’s answer to my question . . . What advice would you give to a friend whose audience wasn’t his niche market group? He laid out a set of six factors that the person might consider to refocus again.

At the end of his article, Dawud left me (and you) with a question.

So Liz, what would you suggest my friend do if they looked around and found themselves lost with their business?

Being lost is not a fun thing. I get that way on a regular basis, so I ought to know.

Whether we’re walking through the woods by the river in my old hometown, or navigating the issues of a business that seems out of control, getting lost is a real situation that we can only deny for so long. Walking in circles doesn’t get us anywhere.

If your friend is stuck, the first I would do is introduce myself and ask him to sit down. Then we’d take a moment to breathe.

I’d let him know that I’m on his side and that no one stays lost for long. He’d get a few minutes to tell me about his journey.

Only a few minutes. . . . no point in spending time talking about what isn’t working, at least not while we’re still lost.

If it’s possible, I get your friend out of his usual work environment. The best would be to get outside where there is sky and trees. Figuring out how to unbundle and unburden chaos is so much easier when we’re not surrounded by human-made things. As a second choice any neutral ground will do.

Then I’d ask, “Who are you What do you love doing? Who loves what you love to do?” My guess is that he’d probably try to tell me why he’s not doing it. I’m kind of relentless at times like that — I wouldn’t let him talk about how he got lost.

You can’t get “unlost” until you know where you are and where you want to go.

Some folks take longer than other folks, but we’d talk until I understood what his answers to those three questions are. All along the conversation, I’d keep checking to make sure that I was hearing what he said.

When we agreed that we both had a clear picture of who he is, what he loves doing, and who loves what he does, then we’d return to the state of his business now.

With the first part decided, the second part becomes easier. Hold up the business to day to see how it’s not doing what we’ve just defined. Then carve the path to bring reality back in line with the definition.

That’s how I’d start to help your friend who is lost.

Many paths lead out of the woods. How would you help a business friend who is lost?

And Dawud, I’ll leave you with this question for next week.

What do you do when your business is going well and close friend’s is not?

If you’re reading this, I’d love to hear your answer too.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

One2One is a cross-blog conversation. Find the answer at dawud miracle on Monday. You can see the entire One-2-One Conversation series on the Successful Series page.

Customers Inside Everything

I just got done reading Dawud’s answer to my question . . . What do you want from your business when it grows up? Isn’t he the most amazing?

At the end of his article, Dawud left me (and you) with a question.

How can social media/blogging help businesses stay customer-centered?

You’ve probably noticed that Dawud has uncanny timing.

Here I sit alone in a room just outside of D.C. I’ve spent the past two days and will spend the next two thinking about products, marketing, and customers. I’m launching a new project soon. Questions like this one from Dawud are high and heavy on my mind.

How do I use Social Media to Stay Customer Centered? Not very well actually. But I know a few folks who do it really well. I’ve been watching and listening. Hopefully, I’m picking up a few things. . . . Here’s what I see.

Rodney Rumford commented on Robert Scoble’s video. Rodney’s customers are Facebook citizens. He’s listening to everything they say and responding.

Jeff posted a link about homerooms and social media. Jeff’s post prompted some feedback that added some insights to Jeff’s thoughts on the subject.

Over on Twitter, Chris Brogan asks questions and invites experts to call him.

Folks all over Facebook, LinkedIn, Pownce, and StumbleUpon are asking and answering questions on discussion boards and in personal messages.

You get the idea.

I suppose that there are vast customer groups for whom it would be less than useful to gather information from Social Media. Customers who don’t blog aren’t likely to be well-portrayed or accurately described by a medum on which they don’t participate, (as much as we might think they need to, if that’s our opinion.)

At this moment, I’m still learning. I’m a little shy about social events, even those that are only virtual ones. If you’re not, I’d appreciate any help you offer.

While I stand by the wine and cheese watching, I’ll leave you with this question.

What advice would you give to a friend whose audience wasn’t his niche market group?

If you’re reading this, I’d love to hear your answer too.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

One2One is a cross-blog conversation. Find the answer at dawud miracle on Monday. You can see the entire One-2-One Conversation series on the Successful Series page.

Knowing and Leaning

Listen in to my latest answer in the ongoing, one2one conversation that Dawud Miracle and I are having.

Just the other day, Dawud asked me (and you.)

I’ve always seen you as having a great deal of clarity around your blogging and your business. What do you lean on to help you keep that clarity?

Why is that? How is that? I clearly know what to do? I have to start with a story . . .

This week, I spoke to a close friend on the phone about the serious accident that involved her child. We talked about how every member of her family was doing. She mentioned that one member in particular “rose to the occasion,” and was always the best person, a hero, when emergencies happen.

For a moment the conversation was about how tragedy brings out the higher side of people — that they suddenly become clear in knowing what’s important in life. We talked slowly together about how most folks we knew dropped pretense and petty issues in favor of authentically showing up to offer support. They clearly knew what to do. . . .

Since one particular morning years ago when I closed the door on my childhood, I’ve thought about this way that people get clear when faced with mortality. I’ve wondered about it. I’ve thought it’s a comfort that builds community.

I also have revisited character-building moments to keep my priorities straight.

You see, Dawud . . .

In my personal story . . . clarity in business and in life comes from knowing where I’ve been, where I’m going, and what I value on the days that tragedy strikes.

Some folks believe that people can’t help it when they mean things in anger. I believe the world is so many choices. I believe you can choose not to say something mean ever. I believe my work, if I do it right, can make me a better person. I try to live up to that.

When I write, I like to start out knowing what I want to say. When I do something, I like to know how I’m going to do it and why. When I live my life, I like to keep an eye on what I do — to see what I can learn. All of the time, I want my my heart in it feet first.

I don’t always succeed. I don’t always try.

But I know that if I show up and pay attention and if I keep myself looking in the direction where I’m headed, I’m likely to get there — even when, maybe especially when, I set the highest standards.

I also know that most of what I need is inside of me, not out there in other people. The truth is there to discover and to put to use as a light for my journey. I use that light to sort the good guys from the bad. I use it to keep the fire going when I’m going through the pains of learning.

When I fall, I have friends to lean on. I also have my head and heart packed tight with faith, hope, and love — yeah, love. Any business without love is, well, kind of heartless.

Heartless is not what I want to wake up to in the morning. I’m clear about that.

Who isn’t?

And since this is a one2one conversation . . . and I’m inherently currious . . . to Dawud, (and you too)

Have a question . . .
What do YOU wish for your business when it grows up?

If you’re reading this, I’d love to hear your answer too.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

One2One is a cross-blog conversation. You can see the entire One-2-One Conversation series on the Successful Series page.

An Execution . . . [grin]

Dawud, Do I hear you laughing from sending this question? DAWUD MIRACLE asked me (and you),

What do you feel is necessary to create an effective strategy to promote a business?

I shall rise to the challenge. I shall not be intimidated . . . much.

Strategy and promotion in the last question. Strategy and execution in this one. I’m wondering whether you stay up all night thinking of how to make me work?

Strategy and Execution . . . or Strategy and Tactics

This is a place I could write a book by talking. After five minutes, my husband would say, “Honey, don’t make me live it.” Most publishing projects I’ve worked on, including those I’ve been in charge of, have gotten this wrong in some way.

It’s almost impossible to get the transition from strategy to execution/tacitics just right . . . it’s like becoming a person. In fact, this particular challenge is one of the reasons that I get so jazzed about business. I believe it has made me a better human being — granted, it can go either way.

The main problem that happens is best described this way.

The project is over. Time to do the prototype.

My best tactic is to spend 80% of my time in strategy. I fight myself and everyone on a project to plan deep and build protoypes that are highly defined and agreed upon. Execution is a breeze when everyone knows what the definition of “good work” is, what direction to walk in.

So the way I get from strategy to execution is really to have a strategy, one in which outlines in detail what we are building. The next step is to look at three things closely– People, Quality, and Resources — and how to manage them on a daily basis — Process (information flow).

I actually draw boxes to show how the project will move from one phase to another. In the boxes I write what people and resources I might need to shore things up. I make sure I know what information comes together when.

By the way, I’m no good at doing this in my head or alone. The people involved have to talk it out to make sure that there aren’t gaping holes. When we describe a realistic process, we build in 10% more time for that problem that no one ever expects that always comes.

If I have a clean desk and a schedule for those boxes, when a strategy is planned, I’m more than ready to hit the ground running.

And since this is a one2one conversation . . . and I’m inherently currious . . . to Dawud, (and you too)

I’m sending the question right back.
What do YOU feel is necessary to create an effective strategy to promote a business?.

If you’re reading this, I’d love to hear your answer too.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

One2One is a cross-blog conversation. You can see the entire One-2-One Conversation series on the Successful Series page.