I have been making notes on what my next blog entry should be and haven’t gone forward to bring it up on the to-do list and get them posted. Today, however, I received an email from professional speaker Gene Griessman and the introduction on his e-newsletter really resonates with me. I am a flag bearer of integrity and speaking your truth. Integrity is a quality I believe is a critical component for success and for healthy self worth. I hope Gene’s writing speaks to you as it did for me. If you are interested in hiring Gene for speaking engagements or purchasing his books and DVD’s on President Lincoln please scroll to the bottom of this entry and click over to his website. Take note and remember to choose your words with care. 

THE POWER OF WORDS by GENE GRIESSMAN

(Some years ago I wrote this Lincoln soliloquy for the training film “Lincoln On Communication” and subsequently incorporated it into the one-man play “The Wit and Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln.” It is included in Chapter 19 of our new book.) 

“Words have been used to encourage and praise me. Words have been used to mock, attack, and wound me. But I have never lost faith in their power or their durability.

Words can reveal thoughts, conceal pain, paint dreams, correct errors, and pass along dearly bought lessons to the latest generation.

Words can transport knowledge from the past, interpret the present, and speak to the future. Words can erect walls between people, or build bridges.

Words can inflame passions or cool them, stir up the worst or find the best, pull down or build up, tarnish or cleanse, wound or heal.

The ability to use words can endear you to your fellows, win them to your side, and help you to rise to heights you may now only dream of. That happened to my father’s son.

Pursuing the mastery of words is worth the time, the money, and all the energy you can muster. What you invest will be repaid with interest compounded.

Build up your knowledge so that your words will be true. Nurture your spirit so that your words will be true, kind, and wise.

The world may little note nor long remember what you say here. And yet it may.  For words, once released, take on a life of their own, and find lodging in places and hearts you may never know. And after many days, those words may return to haunt you, or to bless you.

Think carefully before you let them go.

(For autographed copies and quantity discounts of Lincoln Speaks To Leaders, contact us at www.presidentlincoln.com)

If you are involved in planning an upcoming meeting, sales conference, customer-appreciation event or seminar please contact Gene Griessman by visiting his website or calling 404-256-5927. Click here to watch excerpts from the Lincoln presentation in streaming video.

I have returned to the office this morning following the inspiring CEED Leadership Institute held at Davenport University’s beautiful Grand Rapids, Michigan M-6 campus. WISE was a sponsor of the event and I am proud Connection Graphics was selected to create visual branding for CEED’s annual multi-city event. My reflections on the day return me to the many stories the speakers shared. It is with their personal stories a speaker can truly leave a lasting impression on a listener.  An audience of successful women business owners were there to hear facts and authentic examples of effective leadership. With grace and intelligence all of the presenters of the Leadership Institute delivered. Attendees left with clear examples and shared wisdom of personal stories that clearly demonstrated “tough times are temporary but tough people are permanent.” This annual CEED event has two more Michigan locales scheduled for this year. Kellogg Center of Battle Creek will host on June 4, 2009 and Davenport University Livonia Campus will be the hosts for the June 26, 2009 Livonia Leadership Institute. You can learn more and register here at www.miCeed.org.CEED’s Kathi Boyle expressed her gratitude to all the people and organizations that made the Grand Rapids CEED Leadership Institute possible with a personalized gift for the presenters and sponsors.

Sarah Wrasse - www.rightplace.org

Lisa Gretchko - www.howardandhoward.com

Jami Miller - www.jemcomputer.com

Stephen Hughes - www.davenport.edu

Bill Small - www.mmtc.org

Sarah Bates - www.ntsteel.net

*CEED Women’s Business Center programs are funded in part by a Cooperative Agreement with the US. Small Business Administration. 

Those of you who have enjoyed success in business over the years have no doubt received invitations to be accepted in the prestigious Who’s Who listings. If you haven’t, you have probably seen is listed on people’s resumes, lists of accomplishments or memberships on their Web sites and brochures. From Marquis Who’s Who, Strathmore’s Who’s Who, Who’s Who Online, Who’s Who America, Europa’s International Who’s Who and the new ones that rise each year,is there any value in being included? Each of the companies practice marketing claims that standards for inclusion are strict.

Upon receiving a couple of email invitations recently from one of these companies I decided to look into it a bit further. What I like to call my intuition or what others may consider my cynicism, has kept me from writing any of these companies an annual check to have my name and accomplishments included in their “exclusive” publications. One article on the subject I found credible with good content was The Hall of Lame published in the Forbes Magazine March, 3, 1999. This article cites interesting statements from some Marquis Who’s Who board members. Another resource is Larry Bodine’s LawMarketing Blog. My research supports my opinion that most of those who apply are accepted and many of the biographies are self reported and unchecked. Now, for those of you who send your check annually to one or more, I don’t think it is going to hurt anything. However, if you are one of my client’s, please don’t ask me to send out press releases or run full page ads announcing your new claim to fame!

Wow, nearly a full month without an entry. Funny, right after my last post I found other subjects right away I thought would be appropriate blog posts. Now here I am nearly a month later and I am having to remind myself to do a blog entry before the end of the month.

As you can easily see I haven’t embraced the blog-sphere. For me it is a reminder of the many tasks we all strive to meet each hour, each day, each month, each year. I do like the idea of sharing new ideas and expressing my view point. What I don’t like is the challenge of fitting yet another item onto the monthly list. Does it seem to you like more items get added than get taken away?

So, how important are blogs and social media for Web site marketing? Some people are saying they are spending upwards of 20 hours a week with their LinkedIN, Facebook and Twittering. Social Media Marketing Industry Report by Michael A. Stelzner, March 2009, as reported by WebProNews, outlines the value of social media in regard to SEO.

Statistics show this little blog has helped to bring our Web site numbers up. No doubt dedicating regular time to social marketing each week would help increase SEO as well. The bigger question I am posing when it comes to SEO is what is the amount of time required for service businesses to reap the reward - actual buyers to the site? We’ve all recognized that social networking marketing helps in other ways besides SEO, it is worthy of dedicated time. It needs to be added to the monthly list - ugh! More likely, it is tIme to determine what I can turn over to a staff specialist! That’s the ticket, don’t add anything new to your list, find a reliable resource to handle it and save your precious time. And now I get to take “make blog entry” off my list - at least for this month.

This was just too good not to share. Thank you Charmaine for sending it my way!

In response to a video contest this video was submitted by a 20 year old. The contest for young people was titled “u@50″. This video won second place - it will be interesting to see the first place winner. When they showed it, everyone in the room was awe-struck and broke into spontaneous applause. It is simple and brilliant. Take a minute and watch it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42E2fAWM6rA