Daniel Johnson, Jr.

Image via Wikipedia

Welcome to Dump Go Daddy Day.

I’ve moved my domain registrations over to Namecheap. Today only, for every domain transfer, they’re donating $1 to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and their fight against SOPA.  If you’re interested in becoming one of their customers, I’d love if you’d use the following affiliate link:

Background

I think it was 2006 when a couple of other podcasters contacted me to say they had bought domain names for me. (more…)

… they buy WHY you do it.

That’s one of the main points I’m getting as I’ve started reading Simon Sinek’s book Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action.

Most businesses, organizations, and people start with WHAT they do, then they *might* get to HOW they do it, but few really can communicate WHY they do it.

Sinek says that many businesses have no idea why their customers are their customers and why their employees are their employees. There are two ways to influence human behavior: you can manipulate it or inspire it.

The transactional mindset of manipulations include the following: “dropping price; running a promotion; using fear, peer pressure or aspirational messages, and promising innovation to influence behavior – be it a purchase, a vote, or support” (p. 17).

These manipulations are not necessarily bad, as long as you understand they only work for the short-term, though. For example, while shopping, if I’m in transaction mode, all things considered, I’ll probably look at price. Then I may think about quality.

The other, more effective way, Simon argues, is to (more…)

Image via Wikipedia

Remember the movie “Grease 2“? Michelle Pfeiffer, Adrian Zmed, etc.? I remember several months that it was being played nonstop on cable (oy!). I developed a huge crush on Michelle Pfeiffer. But that’s not what I’m here to talk about. Sort of.

“You got a rep to protect.”

I remember a recurring line in the movie from the T-Birds: “I got a rep to protect.” (more…)

If you’re a douchebag in real life, guess what? You’re an even bigger douchebag online because social media amplifies who you are.

You could be a real, genuine human being making an effort to be useful to others.

Or you could be an anonymous troll whose only purpose appears to suck air and tear others down.

Same is true from a business perspective. A lot of businesses are not ready for what social media can do because at their core, they are not ready for what social media will do.

As you think about how you might use social media, don’t forget your people skills.  Dale Carnegie was one of the best social networkers, even though he was around long before the internet. If you haven’t read How To Win Friends and Influence People lately (or ever), it might be time to pick it up. Use my affiliate link if you’d like or get it somewhere else.

inspired from my morning uncaffeinated buzz

Related articles by Zemanta

• On Facebook, You’re Really You (readwriteweb.com)
• 13 reviews of Anonymous trolls (rateitall.com)
• Uncaffeinated buzz and fresh perspectives (danieljohnsonjr.com)

This coming Wednesday, January 27, 2010, I will be giving a free workshop as part of the Northern Kentucky One Stop‘s Career Achievement Network (CAN) monthly series.  The title of the session is “Activate Your Super Powers: The Social Media Utility Belt”.  Sign up here.

Some basic themes we’ll probably cover: (more…)