Reconnecting with the Past

Today has been a great day for reconnecting with people from my past. It is great to catch up with people (past business associates or friends) and learn what is presently going on with them. I also have found it beneficial to myself to share what I am up to; I pay attention to how I explain my life and get to hear how others respond to it. All in all it has been fun and encouraging to hear from others regardless of whether we are discussing successes or failures. I recognized a long time ago that I learn from every experience I am in; whether good or bad, I learn what works and what doesn't.

Today's awareness is to remember people from your past and try to catch up once in a while and see where their lives' have taken them. Sometimes the timing is perfect and you may both have needed what the other has to offer.

Have a great weekend!
~Paul

Linking Up with LinkedIn

If you haven't already, I recommend checking out and joining LinkedIn. It is sort of like Myspace for adults. You can see my LinkedIn profile here or click the button under my profile on this page that says, "View my profile on LinkedIn." You can essentially put an online biography and resume on your profile and then connect to others. People can give recommendations on your profile as well. It is a great way to stay in touch and share your current information with many people at once.

I have been a member for a while, but I only recently have been using it to connect with others. I read a couple of posts on Guy Kawasaki's blog on using LinkedIn and that pushed me to put some more time in with it. You can read the posts that I mention: Ten Ways to Use LinkedIn and LinkedIn Extreme Profile Makeover.

Once you have connections, if you do a search for a specific person or company, you will see how closely you are connected through your own contacts. You will be surprised how many connections you have that are already connected with someone you are looking to meet. The site shows how many degrees away you are, but many that I have seen are within 3 degrees: I am connected to someone who is connected to someone else who is connected directly to the person I am looking for. Make sense?

For me it has been great to connect with college friends, former coworkers and associates.

I look forward to getting some invitations to connect from some of my readers and I will share my thoughts on the system as I have used it more.
~Paul

When You Really Want to be Heard

Quick raise of hands, how many of you out there use a headset for your office phone? I am glad to see that some of you do.

Did you realize that only 7% of communication is verbal? 93% is non-verbal; 38% is tone and 55% is body language including facial expressions.

When we speak on the phone, we are obviously verbal and intonation is accounted for, but 55% of our communication is not present! Now, when you use a headset with your business phone and stand up (maybe walk around a bit), some of your body language comes across in the way you speak. Give it a try. Use your hands when you speak, act the way you would if you were standing directly in front of the person. If you do that, your message will be understood much more clearly and people will feel your emotion and excitement (or lack thereof) in the conversation.

The awareness for today is to pay attention to how you speak to people in person and then notice any differences when you are on the phone. Please comment and let me know what you found (if you do not want to comment on the blog, you can send me a personal note through the "Contact Paul" link under my picture).
~Paul

Choices in Business

“Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision.”
- Peter F. Drucker

I know a lot of people that are still new in their businesses. Sometimes it is hard to see them struggle. Other times it is great to see them succeed. The best part is that they are following their dreams (hopefully) and trying to make it happen for themselves. Sometimes the difference between success and failure is a simple choice that must be made. Sometimes it is the wrong choice. One can fail courageously as well as succeed, but one must take that chance. If one sits on a choice and does not make a decision, but rather lets the world work it out for them, there is a much greater chance of failure than if one makes a choice, right or wrong, but follows through with his actions and is not simply along for the ride.

I commend those of you who have the courage to make a decision and lead your own businesses! ~Paul