Segway Shelter Competition: University of Memphis Entry
Wednesday
Thursday
Moving Past No
by Karen A. Davis
I just began reading I’ve Seen a Lot of Famous People Naked, and They’ve Got Nothing on You! by personal trainer to the stars, Jake Steinfeld. In his book, he talks about his relationship with director, Steven Spielberg, and I discovered something new: Steven Spielberg was declined admission to both the University of Southern California and UCLA film schools. (He was turned down by USC three times.)
A few pages into the book Jake says of his friend, “Sure he’s brilliant and talented, but like the rest of us, he struggled until he found his niche and his genius was recognized.”
Well, most of us know how the story progressed. Spielberg became such a great filmmaker that USC had to take notice, and the university awarded him an honorary degree in 1994.
We view celebrities’ lives through the mainstream media’s filter, and typically what we see is the result of years of diligent, hard work. Sure, some have it easy and quickly rise to fame, but in most cases they are the ones who fall the hardest. For those whose careers endure, conventional media doesn’t really show us the struggle: the planning, reworking of the plan, the closed doors, and the tears when things don’t happen as expected. What we see is the end of the movie, or the beginning of the sequel – how it all turns out after the plans fall into place.
Whether you’ve been let go from a job, moving into a new career, working to get your own company off the ground, or if your long-standing business is experiencing lean times because of the current economy, stay focused on your strengths. Make sure you have solid goals and objectives in place for the job hunt or for developing new business for your office. If you’re working from an old plan, take it out and revise it, recognizing that the methods you used a year or two ago may be outdated.
Determine your niche: the place where you fit – and thrive – in your field. Are you defining your position, or are you letting someone else do it for you? Determine what you do best, work to make yourself the best in your niche, and promote your craft every chance you get. When you move yourself to the top, your audience will have no other choice but to recognize you as the best.
© Copyright – Karen A. Davis. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
I just began reading I’ve Seen a Lot of Famous People Naked, and They’ve Got Nothing on You! by personal trainer to the stars, Jake Steinfeld. In his book, he talks about his relationship with director, Steven Spielberg, and I discovered something new: Steven Spielberg was declined admission to both the University of Southern California and UCLA film schools. (He was turned down by USC three times.)
A few pages into the book Jake says of his friend, “Sure he’s brilliant and talented, but like the rest of us, he struggled until he found his niche and his genius was recognized.”
Well, most of us know how the story progressed. Spielberg became such a great filmmaker that USC had to take notice, and the university awarded him an honorary degree in 1994.
We view celebrities’ lives through the mainstream media’s filter, and typically what we see is the result of years of diligent, hard work. Sure, some have it easy and quickly rise to fame, but in most cases they are the ones who fall the hardest. For those whose careers endure, conventional media doesn’t really show us the struggle: the planning, reworking of the plan, the closed doors, and the tears when things don’t happen as expected. What we see is the end of the movie, or the beginning of the sequel – how it all turns out after the plans fall into place.
Whether you’ve been let go from a job, moving into a new career, working to get your own company off the ground, or if your long-standing business is experiencing lean times because of the current economy, stay focused on your strengths. Make sure you have solid goals and objectives in place for the job hunt or for developing new business for your office. If you’re working from an old plan, take it out and revise it, recognizing that the methods you used a year or two ago may be outdated.
Determine your niche: the place where you fit – and thrive – in your field. Are you defining your position, or are you letting someone else do it for you? Determine what you do best, work to make yourself the best in your niche, and promote your craft every chance you get. When you move yourself to the top, your audience will have no other choice but to recognize you as the best.
© Copyright – Karen A. Davis. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
Friday
Reach Beyond Your Contact List
Live networking is key to building your business. You must establish new relationships and put yourself in the right places at the right times in order to position yourself for the upturn in the economy.
It's important to reach outside of your current contact list and explore new resources for networking. Architects, attend an Engineering convention. Construction professionals, try a Real Estate trade show. Listen to the trends and ideas presented at their events. Our building industry fields are certainly interrelated: Facility Managers need Contractors; Builders need Interior Designers.
Building Industry Resources has compiled a listing of upcoming conferences, trade shows and other events where you can meet building industry professionals, network, and expand your reach throughout the industry. Get your free networking guide: Building Relationships 2009
It's important to reach outside of your current contact list and explore new resources for networking. Architects, attend an Engineering convention. Construction professionals, try a Real Estate trade show. Listen to the trends and ideas presented at their events. Our building industry fields are certainly interrelated: Facility Managers need Contractors; Builders need Interior Designers.
Building Industry Resources has compiled a listing of upcoming conferences, trade shows and other events where you can meet building industry professionals, network, and expand your reach throughout the industry. Get your free networking guide: Building Relationships 2009
Tuesday
Make More When the Marketplace Says Less
Have you taken a day to look at the total situation of your business? Look at the big picture and identify all opportunities - not just for you, but also for your clients. Sales guru, Jeffrey Gitomer, says, "Write down what you intend to do to help the customer, do more business with the customer, gain more referrals from the customer, and make the relationship with the customer a financially rewarding one." Read his article here.
Friday
Build Your Network and Market Your Business with Twitter
I have a short attention span. I skip to the end of a book to find out the ending, and it’s difficult for me to sit through movies. I often tell friends and family, “When you tell me a story, just give me the highlights.” Maybe that’s why Twitter is currently my favorite social networking site. I can get the gist of what a person wants to say in 140 characters or less (including spaces).
Marketing and business promotion have changed; you can’t just build your website, put it out in cyberspace, and hope customers will come. You should be building relationships, participating in discussions and conversions, and helping people solve problems. Twitter is a medium for all of that, and you can use it to drive traffic to your website.
Why use Twitter?
Twitter is free and simple. You can reach hundreds in just a few clicks and point clients in your direction, all in a few minutes per day.
(See, you just got loads of information in 138 characters.)
Who’s on Twitter?
No, it’s not just celebrities. Organizations and publications you know use it, too, including: ASID, Big Builder magazine, ENR, Architectural Record, Professional Remodeler, Newsweek, and the National Building Museum. And you know what? They’re following me! That means whenever I post a new article I’ve written or twitter about a project I’m working on or what I’m teaching my students, those posts come up on their Twitter feed.
There are also real estate agents and developers, architects, interior designers, builders, sustainability specialists, attorneys, magazine editors and other professionals in the building industry who share their expertise with a short post. Most often, each person’s profile (160 characters or fewer) provides a link to a website which can provide a way to contact him or her.
Who to follow?
You don’t have to listen to (read) all of the Twitter chatter; choose who you want to follow. Upon registering, you can see anyone’s followers or whom they are following. Start by following me at www.twitter.com/buildingsource (or as you might see it abbreviated @buildingsource). I typically do not follow anyone who does not post a profile, so click on a photo and find out a little about someone who intrigues you. You’ll find that I am mainly following people in the building industry, some marketing folks, a couple of news sites, and a few just for fun (like @cookbook who tweets recipes in 140 characters or less).
Once you choose a few from those on my page, select from the ones they are following. You’ll soon discover that you’ll gain followers because many are doing the same routine that you are. Also, try We Follow, a Twitter directory site that categorizes Twitter users and ranks them by number of followers.
What to post?
Post items of interest to those in the industry in general or those within your niche. What articles are you reading online? Tweet a link with an interesting introduction. What are you working on? Do a feed of the process of completing the project. Post your portfolio. Trying to sell a property? Tweet it. Got advice for colleagues or clients in your niche? Do a series of tips. Post a link to your blog.
From a conference or trade show, tweet information on the workshops you attend and the vendors and professionals you meet (they’ll appreciate the publicity, too).
Remember, as with all social networking, you should actively participate. Comment on the posts. If someone asks a question and you have the answer, respond, or try to refer him or her to someone who might be able to help. Share your professional experiences. Congratulate people on well-written articles or a creative online portfolio.
Schedule Your Twitter time
Finally, don’t try to read the entire feed coming onto your page; it can be overwhelming. Just take a few minutes each day and scan your page for helpful and interesting information. If you feel you’ve missed something valuable from someone you like to follow, put in their Twitter URL and check their profile.
Twitter can be a useful and productive method for promoting your services. Log on, be sure to complete your profile (with picture or logo), and start networking.
© Copyright – Karen A. Davis. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
Marketing and business promotion have changed; you can’t just build your website, put it out in cyberspace, and hope customers will come. You should be building relationships, participating in discussions and conversions, and helping people solve problems. Twitter is a medium for all of that, and you can use it to drive traffic to your website.
Why use Twitter?
Twitter is free and simple. You can reach hundreds in just a few clicks and point clients in your direction, all in a few minutes per day.
(See, you just got loads of information in 138 characters.)
Who’s on Twitter?
No, it’s not just celebrities. Organizations and publications you know use it, too, including: ASID, Big Builder magazine, ENR, Architectural Record, Professional Remodeler, Newsweek, and the National Building Museum. And you know what? They’re following me! That means whenever I post a new article I’ve written or twitter about a project I’m working on or what I’m teaching my students, those posts come up on their Twitter feed.
There are also real estate agents and developers, architects, interior designers, builders, sustainability specialists, attorneys, magazine editors and other professionals in the building industry who share their expertise with a short post. Most often, each person’s profile (160 characters or fewer) provides a link to a website which can provide a way to contact him or her.
Who to follow?
You don’t have to listen to (read) all of the Twitter chatter; choose who you want to follow. Upon registering, you can see anyone’s followers or whom they are following. Start by following me at www.twitter.com/buildingsource (or as you might see it abbreviated @buildingsource). I typically do not follow anyone who does not post a profile, so click on a photo and find out a little about someone who intrigues you. You’ll find that I am mainly following people in the building industry, some marketing folks, a couple of news sites, and a few just for fun (like @cookbook who tweets recipes in 140 characters or less).
Once you choose a few from those on my page, select from the ones they are following. You’ll soon discover that you’ll gain followers because many are doing the same routine that you are. Also, try We Follow, a Twitter directory site that categorizes Twitter users and ranks them by number of followers.
What to post?
Post items of interest to those in the industry in general or those within your niche. What articles are you reading online? Tweet a link with an interesting introduction. What are you working on? Do a feed of the process of completing the project. Post your portfolio. Trying to sell a property? Tweet it. Got advice for colleagues or clients in your niche? Do a series of tips. Post a link to your blog.
From a conference or trade show, tweet information on the workshops you attend and the vendors and professionals you meet (they’ll appreciate the publicity, too).
Remember, as with all social networking, you should actively participate. Comment on the posts. If someone asks a question and you have the answer, respond, or try to refer him or her to someone who might be able to help. Share your professional experiences. Congratulate people on well-written articles or a creative online portfolio.
Schedule Your Twitter time
Finally, don’t try to read the entire feed coming onto your page; it can be overwhelming. Just take a few minutes each day and scan your page for helpful and interesting information. If you feel you’ve missed something valuable from someone you like to follow, put in their Twitter URL and check their profile.
Twitter can be a useful and productive method for promoting your services. Log on, be sure to complete your profile (with picture or logo), and start networking.
© Copyright – Karen A. Davis. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
Wednesday
AIA Convention Goes Virtual
The American Institute of Architects 2009 National Convention and Design Exposition begins Thursday, April 30th in San Francisco, CA with the focus on "The Power of Diversity: Practice in a Complex World." If you want to attend and have not registered, there will be on-site registration beginning April 28th at noon.
If you can't make it to San Francisco, there are a variety of ways that you can keep up with the happenings at the convention online:
1) Architectural Record's web editor, William Hanley, has dedicated a Twitter stream to the AIA Convention. Follow his reports at www.twitter.com/WilliamHanley
2) Receive daily updates on all the convention events from educational sessions to parties by signing up for the Architectectural Record WebInsider e-newsletter. Find the link on the ArchRecord site.
3) Attend the convention from the comfort of your home, office or classroom. Register for the AIA Virtual Convention here. It's free! Get daily keynote addresses, attend continuing education programs (and, yes, you get AIA/CEU credits), and virtually visit the exhibitors.
If you can't make it to San Francisco, there are a variety of ways that you can keep up with the happenings at the convention online:
1) Architectural Record's web editor, William Hanley, has dedicated a Twitter stream to the AIA Convention. Follow his reports at www.twitter.com/WilliamHanley
2) Receive daily updates on all the convention events from educational sessions to parties by signing up for the Architectectural Record WebInsider e-newsletter. Find the link on the ArchRecord site.
3) Attend the convention from the comfort of your home, office or classroom. Register for the AIA Virtual Convention here. It's free! Get daily keynote addresses, attend continuing education programs (and, yes, you get AIA/CEU credits), and virtually visit the exhibitors.
Monday
Marketing Lessons from the Domino's Incident
To avoid a public relations disaster, Domino's Pizza responded quickly to a negative video posted by two now former employees. The Detroit Free Press lists what companies can do to respond effectively to negative publicity:
- Closely monitor social media
- Responded quickly and at sites where action can be taken virally
- Educate company workers
- Foster a positive corporate culture
- Set clear guidelines for employee behavior during working hours
See Domino's video in response to the employees' actions
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