1000 Cranes Blog

Being Prepared

A fellow Toastmasters friend of mine, Eric Branche, once said, "When you're prepared, you don't have to spend time getting prepared."   He said this in response to a question regarding his hobby of billiards.  He said this phrase because he always wants to be prepared to play billiards at any time.  He always keeps his own cue stick in his car so that he can play at a moment's notice.  

This week, that phrase came in handy for 1000 Cranes as we are working to secure our first government account.  After a consultation with the NC Institute of Minority Economic Development in May 2009, I started the process of registering 1000 Cranes into the Central Contractors Registration (CCR) database.  In order to do business with any government agency, a vendor is required to get a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and then register within the CCR database.    I've had the DUNS number for a number of years, but 1000 Cranes had not yet been entered into CCR. 

After completing this in late May 2009, it didn't appear that we would have an opportunity to secure work with the Federal Government.  We had the faith and vision that one day we would have an opportunity to get into this market.  I'm happy to report that one year and three months later, it appears that the preparation will pay off!  A prospective client called on Thursday asking for help with Strategic Planning, and asked if we have done work with the Federal Government.  Although, this will be our first government engagement, because 1000 Cranes was already listed in the CCR database, we now have an opportunity to work with this account!  It pays to be prepared! 

Have you taken all the necessary steps to prepare you or your organization for future opportunities? 

What goals have you set for your organization and what needs to be done for you to complete them? 

Who do you need to consult to understand processes that may be required for you to enter into a new market?   

Reflecting on the Toastmasters Convention 2010

I was not aware of all the pomp and circumstance that surrounds the Toastmasters International Convention that took place last week in Palm Desert, California.  Some of you may be wondering what happened to my blog postings.  Quite frankly, I literally had no time to compose a quality post.  On some days, I had meetings from 7:00am to 10:00pm and had very little time to sit down to take a break.  At one point I only had 45 minutes to rest just before dinner.  Inspite of all that stress, the convention was well worth the time. 

This was the first year that Toastmasters International flew in the top three officers of every District around the world for training.  In the past, this training was done regionally, and the last regional training was right in our backyard in Greensboro, NC.  Now, with the new alignment, as the new Lieutenant Governor Marketing for District 37 (State of North Carolina) I had a chance to meet Toastmasters from around the world, from Australia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada and from around the United States.  

What amazes me about this organization is the dedication and passion that people have.  I was especially surprised by the fervent drive many of the candidates showed as they ran for the elected offices.  There are now 14 Regions throughout the world and the candidates spent much of their personal wealth in their respective marketing campaigns.  I was notably impressed by some of the creative ideas that some of them showed in the items they distributed.  Some of them had planned and executed fantastic campaigns that resulted in a decisive win.  With others, it was a close call.  It took three votes to finalize the 2nd Vice President position with four candidates vying for the same position!  Two of them weren't on the ballot!     

The highlight of the convention was the International Speech Competition where nine candidates from around the world spoke before the sellout crowd.  There was not an empty seat in the house and the overflow group of people had to observe the contestants in the foyer on plasma screen TVs.  Just like watching good theatre, there is nothing like watching a live speech competition.   David Henderson, Robert MacKenzie and Linus Chang, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners, were all wonderful to watch.  Seeing how well the contestants had planned their speeches and executed them was inspiring.  Clearly, their hard work paid off!  

I've been on the stage at the District level in the Humor Competition, and I can only imagine what it must feel like to take the stage someday to inspire others.  Here I am posing onstage late one night after everyone had left.  I think I look pretty good!  Perhaps after my officer roles have been completed, I'll have that opportunity again to compete.  At this point, I'll work to the best of my ability to be the best Lt. Governor Marketing (LGM) that I can, and we'll see how the future will unfold! I am grateful for the opportunities Toastmasters International has given me! 

What have you planned that came out better than you expected?

Have you taken the stage to deliver a message to others and how did you feel about it?

Who are you ready to inspire? 

Do you have that "Je ne sais quoi?"

Today is the first day of the Toastmasters International Convention in Palm Desert, CA. There are Toastmasters from around the world who have gathered here early for executive officer training and for officer elections.  As a newly elected member of the District 37 (State of North Carolina) Toastmasters team, I have been amazed by the number of dedicated people who have come here to dedicate their time to this organization. 

I've been especially surprised by the people who have been running for office.  Many of them have spent a great deal of their time developing marketing collateral, handouts and giveaways as they communicate their respective views about the organization.  It has already been illuminating to see the vast variety of presentations and the wide range of investments that have been made to the candidates' respective campaigns. No matter how flashy the material, in the end, I've found that to win our vote, it comes down to the following  key factors: 

1. how well a candidate can communicate his or her vision of the organization, 
   
2. how well each presents himself or herself in a professional, polished manner and 
   
3. how well he or she inspires the audience.     

In my humble opinion, this last point is one of the most important.  You can have your best well-laid out plans and present these in the flashiest manner, but if you can't inspire a person, then you won't motivate them to follow you and your ideas.  Inspiration is one of the most important ingredients in a leader especially for those who will inevitably be running for the highest offices to represent Toastmasters International.  Some people call it "marketing magic."  Some call it "charisma and charm." Some have referred to it as "je ne sais quoi."  In the end, it's an intangible spark that a candidate conveys to inspire others.  

The District 37 team has many candidates to interview in the coming days, and I anticipate it will be a long process before our final decisions are made.  

When you decide to vote for a person whether its for an elected government office or an office for a nonprofit organization, what factors do you consider? 

Do you have the "Je ne sais quoi" factor that can be so illusive in others?  

Why do you think you do or do not have it?  

When You're Always Real, People Will Notice

First impressions can mean a great deal when you are working in business.  People are often impressed or disappointed by one's demeanor whether it is in the workplace or outside the office. Your behavior can make the difference between a winning or losing a deal. 

Corporate image consultants help people make a great first impression by giving them advice on grooming and attire, and web designers make a lucrative living by making websites shine. But, that doesn't change your authentic self.  If you behave poorly, it doesn't matter how well you dress or how well you give a speech, people will not trust you. 

You hear many consultants and advisors who suggest developing an "elevator pitch" or a "30-second overview."  On the other hand, I would like you to consider this...those activities in the end don't matter.  What matters is that you live authentically day-to-day, and that you build trust with your client based on who you are as an individual.  

When You're Always Real, People will Notice. 

What do I mean by that?

1. An elevator pitch is forced and rehearsed.  It only shows your best side to be a would-be prospect.
2. Your clients want to see the person "off the platform" and often won't tell you that directly.  When clients ask you to dinner, they want to see you in another environment outside of the workplace. 
3. People want to see that you "walk the walk and talk the talk," and whether you practice what you preach.  If you live authentically, people will gravitate to you.  

One of the phrases I often tell my clients is that "I am the consultant who will tell you when the baby is ugly."  That often gets a laugh, but my clients know I will always give them my honest opinion.  My clients hire me because they know I will not sugar-coat a situation and provide them suggestions for improvement in their best interests even if that means having a difficult conversation.  If you're looking for a consultant who will always say "yes" to everything you ask and always agree with you, I'm not the right person to hire.   My clients know this, and they hire me because they trust my opinion.  When you're working with your clients, you also need to consider this. 

Are you authentic in everything you do?

How do you behave on and off the platform?  Are your actions congruent with what you represent? 

How do you build trust with your clients?