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charity


Go get Educated and stop worrying about others!

May 31, 2009
Posted under Business
4
remarks





worry-faceI was speaking with Loretta Marston of Optima Business Consulting the other day, she had attended the first Learn About Web conference held here in the Tri-Cities, WA, and has joined myself and others in creating the Biz411 Group, a group of Small Business Owners who are dedicated to educating others while generating some money for charity.

We were talking a bit about why some Owners or key people might choose to shy away from these events and she had mentioned a conversation with a local business owner who mentioned that the idea of coming to a show like this was appealing, but that it may show a weakness to other potential clients or a boss, if they came.

I really hadn’t thought about it this way, and I understand the concern. Having said that, there is another way to look at this.

Conferences are nothing more than ongoing education. You will hear plenty you may already know, the goal here is to get up to date on concepts you may not understand as well. Or you might be provided some information to help you make decisions about your business future.

I proudly tell my customers about the additional conferences I attend, because they also know that with technology, every facet of business changes at the speed of light. Your boss knows this as well. Explaining to your boss that the investment of the trip to the conference will prove one of two things, you know everything you need to know, or they made a wise investment that will enable you to make them more efficient!

I have been to conferences that taught me very little, and some that I have learned a lot from. The key is to read the details about what the conference is geared to provide. What is its target market, what are the key conversation points, and is there enough there for it to be sensible for you.

What about competitors? They might be there!

Yeah? So what? You should be worried about them being there while your sitting in the office. Everyone wants a competitive edge, its only the fool who thinks they have it already. A very key issue in business, its not about what you know.. you are EXPECTED to know how to do your job, its about how you build and sustain relationships. If you’re not as good as or better than your competitor at that, no amount of knowledge will save you.

Conferences are designed to help you build and keep relationships by providing you the education you need to make them happy.

Focus on YOU, not on THEM.

I educate people and learn from them, yes, even my competitors!

Getting to know Danny Brown – Press Release PR

February 16, 2009
Posted under Interviews
0
remarks





Danny Brown - Press Release PR

Danny Brown - Press Release PR

There are many people that use Twitter for many different reasons, getting to know others, education, sharing information. How do you get the most out of Twitter and what do you hope to accomplish?

I’d say it’s most definitely the connections, and the thought processes that you come across every day. While I don’t see every single tweet made by my connections, just catching the odd one that has an immense depth that blows me away is what makes each connection count. As far as accomplishing goals, basically continue to learn from the people around me, and improve myself because of it.

Tell us where you are from and what you do for a living?

I’m originally from Edinburgh, Scotland, but I now live in Canada just outside Toronto. I own my own boutique PR agency, which combines traditional PR and marketing with social media. This includes business consultancy as well as individual projects.

Do you know others who use Social Media tools like Twitter in your area? What would you say about the knowledge of people in your area about Social Media in general?

If by my immediate area, there are a few, although I’d probably say that Facebook is still a more popular application than Twitter. You’ve got incredibly smart guys like @davefleet and @unmarketing who are both local to me and in my field, so it’s an ideal mix. :) It’s definitely growing, though, and I think 2009 will see Twitter go much more mainstream.

What gets you really motivated and excited?

Knowing that each day is different. I’m lucky to work in an industry I love (despite the best efforts of unethical PR pros giving it a bad name) and that I am my own boss. The charity challenge I’ve put together for 2009 is really motivating me, and seeing all the support for it is always exciting. And learning from great people online every day, who want to encourage others in all that they do? That never fails to amaze me.

Give us one crazy fact about yourself you haven’t already shared.

Hmm… when I was at primary school (I’m guessing grade 6 or 7 across here), I played the Fairy Godmother in the school production of Cinderella. Definitely a crowning moment, and scary how “okay” I looked in a dress… ;-)

Any other tidbits you would like to offer?

Never take no for an answer, and no matter what people might tell you, everyone has greatness inside of them. Don’t be afraid to show yours and encourage others to be great too. :)