I am moving through a new phase in completing my book, The Influence Factor: the editing phase. Yes, I have an editor, but I STILL have to review notes and changes and approve them or rewrite. It is a tedious process, that is for sure!
As I was going through a chapter today, I reread a section where I share that becoming a copycat won’t create your influential voice. This is counter intuitive to what many teach us. “Don’t reinvent the wheel.” “Find someone in your field that does it well, and do what they do.”
I am sure many of you have seen it:
1-a new manager that starts to look and sound like another leader in the organization
2-a speaker that shares the same points as one they admire
3-a teenage girl trying to be like the “popular” girl
4-a customer service rep that is so scripted they cannot hear what your need is
I could go on and on.
Reality is this. Copying works short term. Originality works long term. Copying is easy, originality takes more work. When you step into the real YOU, you step into your ability to share your influential voice. Your originality. Your view of the world. I get it. People copy because they don’t know HOW to be their best selves. Some would say the world teaches us how to copy. Interesting.
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
I finished my book today! Well, the manuscript! It’s off to the publisher for the next phase of analyzing, fine-tuning, and perfecting those words on paper. Some of you have been with me on this journey of writing. Last fall I started a personal 30 day writing challenge. I wrote every morning for 30 minutes whether I wanted to or not! That writing led to the self-discovery of why I have not published my own book yet.
Yes, I know there will be critics of my book. Of all kinds. Some would say the first level of critic will start in this next phase with the publisher. My guess? Critics will be everywhere, heck they always are huh?
I am publishing with a company called Our Little Books. I am confident some will say I didn’t not write a REAL book! So what if it’s only 8000 words! It’s thoughtful, provocative, and something that I have talked and believed in from many, many years of my work.
This book for me will lead to a series of books. It has allowed me to take my formula, clearly define what I do by writing this first book, and apply it to other situations in the world. As a matter of fact, I am already using it while I speak again (Did “The Influence Factor in Social Media” last week- rav reviews! That will be one of the future books for sure!). This is helping me help my clients like I used to in the old days! I truly owe that to this process. I cannot say enough about the 30 day writing challenge. Now this idea came from Dan Kennedy who writes every day for an hour. I continuously meet and work with clients in my one on ones, who struggle with getting content out. If they would just write for 30 minutes a day, I think they’d be blown away. Honestly, without that, I am not sure I’d be saying I wrote a book.
I believe they would find the power of their voice. They would discover that they have quality content to post in social media regularly. They would realize how influential they are when they just get down and write from their heart. They would develop the Influence Factor, and increase success in so many ways. Every person I interviewed for my book writes regularly! Now doesn’t that say something about how to create influence in your life? It definitely worked for me! Now it’s time to go celebrate that manuscript.
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
While watching the trick or treaters I was fascinated by a very simple concept behind the day. I realized that Halloween is about two interesting things that when embraced in life, can lead toward success and happiness.
First, Halloween is about dressing up and being whoever you want to be. Think about it! One day every year we allow our children to dress up and be whoever they want to be: scary, feisty, happy, pretty princesses, fairies, villains, superheroes, even freaks! (ok, on occasion, you get my point!) They get to decide who they want to be. They get to BE whatever they want, and we happily accept who they choose. It is perfectly ok.
Second, Halloween is about asking for what you want. And guess what you actually get it! You ask for a trick or treat and guess what every single time you ask, you get a trick or a treat.
Imagine if we grew up believing that about life. That we can first we get to be who we want to be and it will be accepted by others that that’s who we are. It will be appreciated in the differences and the diversity. And second that we can ask for what we deserve.
Imagine if in your life you were truly who you want to be. You did not question how or think that you had to dress up and be someone. Imagine if you had no fear about who you are. And imagine if you could ask for what you wanted and get direct honest up front answers. You might not like the “trick or treat” answers (just like you did not always like the candy)! But wouldn’t the world be a better place?
I recently heard several of my over 40 girlfriends say they have embraced these two things, finally in their lives. But I think they are a minority. Have you embraced it? I truly believe this is a critical component of becoming influential, and being your biggest, bestest bad-assery self!! Has it led to greater happiness and success?
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
I love Stephen Covey. I think the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is one of the most powerful works out there. And I meet MANY people who have read it, but do not LIVE the habits. Too often when I share what I am up to, people ask, “How do you get it all done, Ann? And have time for fun?” This lesson, which I LIVE and truly learned from the Covey’s book, explains it:
What are you focusing on that you do not have control of? How will you let it go and grow your circle of control? How will you increase the power that comes from that focus?
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
Creating a customer experience is not always easy, but there are great examples every day if you watch. I have been a HUGE fan of Guerrilla Marketing for many years, and recently had an amazing “Guerrilla” customer experience via Twitter. There is nothing more powerful than having it happen to you! You may not be in social media, but you are in customer service. Everyday we are given the opportunity to BE Influential with our customers, internal or external.
Comcast has never really been my favorite. But @ComcastBill is my superhero. I personally think they should have him training the CSR’s that answer the 800 technical issue line. And because of @ComcastBill I’m still a Comcast customer.
What can we learn from @ComcastBill about how we can use a brilliant Guerrilla Marketing techniques to increase customer experiences and be more influential?
Listen more and talk less.
Let the customer have their experience. Understand the power of empathy, even when you think they are RUDE!
Never say “calm down”.
Follow up- are they satisfied now?
If something negative happens; deal with integrity and good communication.
What Guerrilla Marketing techniques can you embrace in your business?
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
I am moving through a new phase in completing my book, The Influence Factor: the editing phase. Yes, I have an editor, but I STILL have to review notes and changes and approve them or rewrite. It is a tedious process, that is for sure!
