Becky Robinson's Blog, page 42

5 Tips for Social Media During Tragedies and Disasters

Social media becomes a source of both information and support during difficult times such as Hurricanes Irma and Maria, and right now during the tragic mass shooting in Las Vegas. Facebook’s check-in option allows people to quickly notify family and friends that they are safe. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube allow us to get the latest information and video, plus discover a multitude of ways we can help.

However, there’s been some criticism lately that social media allows us to express sympathy but remain all too passive in the face of tragedy and disaster. The “Prayers For…” memes have been roundly criticized for their passivity, yet several different versions are already circulating on social media in relation to the Las Vegas shootings. Is it enough to express grief and shock? Probably not, but it’s a very difficult line that brands, businesses, and thought leaders must walk.

While we are all deeply saddened about the tragic attack, thought leaders and brands can appear as if they are capitalizing on tragedy if their response isn’t carefully measured.

During difficult times in our world, we at Weaving Influence recommend a few common-sense steps to follow on social media.

Consider going dark. During times of great tragedy, if your brand can’t help provide solace or relief, consider just pausing for 24-48 hours. This isn’t the time to worry about reach and engagement numbers, it’s the time to let the news take center stage.
Express sincere sympathy. If you decide to continue social posting, review anything that’s been scheduled to make sure it’s still appropriate. If your brand’s voice is normally funny or sarcastic, tragedies are a time to briefly change the tone. And, don’t express a tired cliché—express sincere emotions, but try not to make it about you or your brand.
Share helpful information. Getting as many people as possible helping victims is beneficial for everyone. Share information about donations, volunteer opportunities, and other ways people can help.
Pause and take your time. In the aftermath of a terrible event, it’s easy to rush in with a quick response; but take your time and carefully think about the message you want to share with your followers. When possible, offer hope and help. You can never go wrong with either.
Don’t go on with business as usual. Most importantly, don’t go on with business as usual. Huge national and international events shake us all, and occupy our hearts and minds for days and weeks to come. Don’t continue trying to sell your product during the first 24-48 hours on social media as though nothing has happened. You need to modify your message and be thoughtful and respectful.

Fred Rogers may have said it best: “To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers—so many caring people in this world.”

On social media, we have the choice every day, not just during times of disaster and tragedy, to be a helper or not to help.

We’re choosing to help. We hope you will, too.

How You Can Help

Donate Blood. If you are in the Las Vegas area, emergency blood donation sites have been set up. If you aren’t, you can still donate locally. It truly is the gift of life.

Donate Money. Donate to the Southern Nevada Chapter of the American Red Cross, or through the GoFundMe page set up by the Clark County Commission Chair from Las Vegas. Other pages are being set up to help victims, too. Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada is providing emotional and mental support for victims and their families. You can click here to help them.

Contact your elected representatives. Let your local and national representatives know how you feel about this act of violence, or disaster recovery from Hurricanes Irma and Maria. If you see things that need to change, contacting your representatives is the first step, no matter your party-affiliations or political beliefs.

 

Self Leadership & the One Minute Manager

As a leader in your organization, you want all your employees to do their best and proactively look for ways to help your organization flourish. When individual contributors aren’t taking initiative or being as effective as they could be, an organization won’t reach its full potential.  Is lack of self leadership derailing your organization’s success?

The nature of leadership is evolving with the focus on each individual and the specific contributions they make to an organization’s growth. If you start by equipping your team with a self leadership mindset, you will create an empowered workforce that is productive, creative and passionate. If you want to succeed, start by creating a workforce of self leaders. They will become the driving force of your organization.

Self Leadership & The One Minute Manager

Just as the iconic bestseller The One Minute Manager gave leaders the three secrets to managing others, so this follow-up book gives people the three tricks for managing themselves. Updated with current and compelling research, this newly revised edition of Self Leadership and the One Minute Manager empowers people at every level of the organization to achieve success.

Through a captivating business parable, Ken Blanchard and coauthors Susan Fowler and Laurence Hawkins show readers how to apply the world-renowned Situational Leadership® II method to their own development. The story centers on Steve, a young advertising executive who is about to lose his job. Through a series of talks with a mentor named Cayla, Steve learns three tricks for effective self leadership. His newfound skills not only empower Steve to keep his job, but also show him how to challenge assumptions, overcome obstacles, and continue growing, learning, and achieving.

In Self Leadership and the One Minute Manager, readers will see how accepting personal responsibility for their own success leads to freedom and autonomy. Readers will learn the three tricks of the Self Leader, and discover how to make immediate use of Points of Power and Proactive Conversations to take initiative when they’re not officially in charge. Most of all, readers will be reminded that accepting personal responsibility for our own success leads to power, freedom, and autonomy.

Meet the Authors

Ken Blanchard is a distinguished speaker and author. Known for his groundbreaking work in the fields of leadership and management, he is the cofounder and chief spiritual officer of the Ken Blanchard Companies, an international management training and consulting firm. He is the coauthor of the New York Times bestseller The One Minute Manager and has written numerous bestselling books, including Raving Fans, Gung Ho!, and Whale Done! He has received numerous awards for his work and has been inducted into Amazon’s Hall of Fame as one of the top twenty-five bestselling authors of all time.

Susan Fowler has over thirty years of experience as a researcher, consultant, and coach in over thirty countries around the globe in the field of leadership. She is the lead developer of the Ken Blanchard Company’s Optimal Motivation program, which has been implemented worldwide. She is the bestselling author of Leadership and the One Minute Manager with Ken Blanchard and Laurie Hawkins, in addition to Achieve Leadership Genius with Drea Zigarmi and Dick Lyles, and Leading at a Higher Level with Ken Blanchard, among others. She received her bachelor’s degree in anthropology and business from the University of Colorado, and is a professor in the Master of Science for Executive Leadership program at the University of San Diego. She also serves on the board of directors for Angel Faces, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping adolescent girls with severe burn/trauma injuries.

Laurence Hawkins is an internationally renowned management consultant, motivational speaker, and — with Ken Blanchard and Susan Fowler — the coauthor of the Situational Self Leadership program. Hawkins received his bachelor’s degree in American history and literature from Williams College, and his master’s and doctoral degrees in leadership and organizational behavior from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Praise for the Book

“Effective leaders know how to lead themselves. In this engaging parable, the secrets of self leadership are revealed. Readers will find tools they can put to work immediately to start making their highest aspirations a reality.”

—Judd Hoekstra, co-author of Leading at a Higher Level and Crunch Time

Learn More

Buy your copy of the book, or share a review of it, on Amazon.
Visit the site to learn more, download a sample chapter, and find shareable content.

7 Ways to be Generous in Business That Don’t Involve Money

When I was in college, I worked as a production assistant on a highly-rated political news program on MSNBC. The host was one of the first to popularize the shouting matches endemic in the media today.

And my time there introduced me to the importance of generosity in business.

The program included a correspondent who offered me invaluable advice on how to get into the business, introduced me to key players (even the head of NBC News!), and offered feedback on my broadcast reel. He was generous.

One day, he invited me into the news meeting in the host’s office. As I awkwardly tried to roll a chair that was too wide for the doorway and too heavy for a gal in heels into the small crowded room, the host glared at me and bellowed, “What do you think you’re doing?! Get out of here!” He was not . . . generous. In any way.

That was the day I realized that generosity in business isn’t just about comping an overdone steak. It’s about helping others grow.

Throughout my career in communications, I’ve experienced many ways people can be generous that don’t involve money. Here are the top 7.

1. Time.

They say time is money, but really, time is invaluable. And even just a little bit goes a long way. Time is really the most important thing you can give someone. The bit of time the MSNBC reporter gave me may have helped chart the trajectory of my whole life. His advice helped me land my first TV gig, which led to my next job, which led me to my husband, and well, the rest is history.

2. Knowledge.

People who have knowledge shouldn’t see it as a competitive advantage. They should see it as a tool to help others grow and embolden teams. At Weaving Influence, we are all about sharing what we know about clients and industry trends so that we can do our jobs better. For example, within our public relations team, we share media contacts. At other places, PR pros keep those relationships close to the vest.

3. Feedback.

It’s really hard to get better at something if you don’t know where you need to improve and how. It’s hard to keep up the good work, for that matter, if no one tells you when you’ve done a job well.

I’ve been lucky enough throughout my career to have people share their wisdom and tell me how I can get better and polish my skills. It takes a bit of investment on their end, but it reaps great rewards–for everyone.

After all, handholding takes a lot more time in the long run. Teach ‘em how to fish.

4. Courtesy.

We live in a world of constant communication, and because of this, the art of communication is suffering. Emails are terse and informal. Salutations are rare.

So when someone sends an email that is properly addressed and even includes a “how are you?” or something of that ilk, it’s really refreshing. In the public relations world, it’s particularly nice when media personnel have the courtesy to respond to a pitch, and even give a reason as to why he or she may not be interested at that time.

The generosity is a win-win. It helps the PR professional understand what the media personnel is looking for, and in turn, the media personnel may get a great source for a future story.

5. Understanding.

There’s a saying I’ve run into a lot these days: “Meet people where they are.” And, basically, it means to have more empathy. It means to be generous in your understanding. Understand that someone may need help finishing a project because they’re overwhelmed or dealing with a sick family member. Or, understand that a new client is brand new to the publicity game and needs extra attention to wrap their arms around the usual ins-and-outs. Being generous in understanding is never a bad thing—in work or in life.

6. Opportunity.

When you talk with Weaving Influence founder Becky Robinson, chances are the word “opportunity” comes up several times. She’s all about creating opportunities for clients and for team members. She’s not afraid to go out on a limb for others and let them try something new. She’ll make sure you have what you need first, and then let you give it go.

Countless times, I’ve seen colleagues and clients grow their skills or brand because of her generosity in giving them chances to broaden their horizons (myself included).

7. Forgiveness.

As someone who has a tough time letting her own mistakes go, it’s important to be generous with forgiveness for others and yourself.

We are all human. We mess up. And it’s important to accept that, learn from it, and move on.

Thankfully, I work in an environment where that’s part of the culture. There is no finger-pointing; instead, there’s discussion around it—and I’m a better professional (and person) for it.

How have you experienced (or shown) generosity at work?

 

Meet Team Member Carrie Koens & Celebrate ‘Help Them Grow’!

Every once in a while, we like to introduce various team members and let you get to know the people behind the screen a little better. (See previous team member interviews here.) Today’s is a fun one for me, since Carrie was the first person I met from the Weaving Influence team, and she was instrumental in bringing me on board! I have learned a lot from her, both in a work capacity as well as through her example of gratitude and perseverance despite some interesting challenges. She is not only a fellow #introvert and coworker, but has become a good friend and prayer partner too.

Today’s interview is made even more special because we’re also celebrating the 5 year anniversary of Julie Winkle Giulioni and Beverly Kaye’s bestseller, Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go — a book that today’s team member helped launch five years ago! I know she’s excited to be working with Julie again, so I’ll let her share more about that. So without further ado . . .

Meet Carrie Koens

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

I am a work in progress – personally, professionally, and spiritually. As an INTJ, I’m rarely satisfied with the status quo and always looking for new solutions. As a bookworm, I’m constantly learning from those who come at life from a different point of view. As a born-again Christian, I’m continually striving to die to self and life a life that honors my Savior. I adore good food, and thankfully my husband of 17 years loves to cook. I’m a sucker for a good Indian curry, squeal over anything pumpkin, was a fan of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot long before it was hip, and not-so-secretly dream of moving to Paris. After 16 years of being childless by choice, in 2016 we embarked on a wild, God-orchestrated journey of parenthood when we adopted five siblings from Costa Rica (four girls and a boy).

What’s the last book you read and really enjoyed?

Keys to the Deeper Life by A.W. Tozer

Just for fun: tell us one thing that’s on your bucket list!

I’ve lived, worked, and traveled all over the world, but visiting New Zealand is definitely on my bucket list (along with scoring that perfect apartment right by the Eiffel Tower, of course!).

How did you get connected with Weaving Influence?

Almost six years ago, an unhappy English-major-turned-reluctant-pharmacy-tech was talked into acquiring a Twitter account and connecting with a woman named Becky Robinson. About five and a half years ago, Becky asked this unhappy pharmacy tech what her dream job would be, and the tech – taking a chance, since she figured she’d never hear from this Twitter woman again – answered, “reading books and editing from home.” On May 4, 2012, Becky offered that woman a work-from-home job, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Share a little about your role on the team.

I began working with Weaving Influence in May 2012, coming in right before the launch of Dare, Dream, Do by Whitney Johnson. Shortly thereafter I was assigned to work with Julie Winkle Giulioni, whose book (co-authored with Beverly Kaye), Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go, was launching in September 2012. Julie was incredibly patient with me as I learned the ropes, and truly helped ME grow in professional confidence and skill. Over the years I served in a variety of roles, including Book Launch Director, before stepping away in June 2016 to finalize the adoption. In January 2017, Becky invited me back to WI, offering the flexibility needed to fit my new family dynamics. I’m primarily involved in behind-the-scenes oversight, but occasionally fill in on project management, and am currently thrilled to be overseeing the 5 Year Anniversary Celebration for Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go, once again working with the lovely and gracious Julie Winkle Giulioni.

What’s your favorite aspect of your work?

Hands-down the flexibility and the ability to work from home. While I appreciated it before, now that I’m a mom of 5, I cannot imagine trying to juggle five kids and school schedules and sporting events while holding down a traditional 9-5, even if it was just part-time. I am so grateful for the opportunity that Becky creates through Weaving Influence, allowing me to use the OTHER half of my brain and bring in some much needed income for our expanded family.

Could you share one tip about book launches for the rest of us?

One thing that I think people fail to understand is that your friends and family – while super excited for you – are not going buy enough books to put you on the New York Times bestseller list. Your audience needs to be broader than your holiday card list, so put yourself out there and start engaging! Most people – even those who hate social – realize that in 2017 the social element is an important part of any launch, product, or company; but what they fail to realize is that if they create the accounts but never show up, they might as well not have a social presence at all. By all means, HIRE someone to help you run the accounts (like the talented team at WI), but don’t forget to log on yourself – even if it’s just once or twice a week – and engage with your audience. Trust me: people know when it’s YOU, rather than your team. Becky’s been saying it for years . . . the magic happens when YOU show up.

Thanks Carrie! How can people connect with you outside of Weaving Influence?

Confession: I have three, infrequently updated blogs: www.carriesbusynothings.com (personal), 7koens.blogspot.com (adoption), and www.cgkoens.com (professional). Most of my free time is spent on Facebook, and you can follow me at BusyNothings (personal), AndThenThereWere7 (adoption), or CGKoens (professional). Find me on Twitter @cgkoens.

More About ‘Help Them Grow’

It’s hard to believe that it’s been five years since Help Them Grow launched, but this timeless book definitely deserves a celebration! We’ll be celebrating throughout the month of September, culminating in a focused celebratory week on October 2-6. Over the next few weeks, we would love for you to help us flood social media with congratulations. It’s also a great time to buy your own copy, or leave a quick review on Amazon or Goodreads if you’ve already read it. Plus, don’t forget to visit the website to learn more!

What Is the Best Way to Give?

Is it better to give a thousand dollars to one person, or one dollar to a thousand people?

I still haven’t quite decided what my answer is.

One the one hand, a thousand dollars has the potential to make a much greater impact on someone’s life than a single dollar. I recently read about a couple who, while traveling the world and working remotely, started an organization that gives $1000 to individuals in extreme poverty. Giving a large amount can have a tremendous effect on someone’s life, and can be an extremely rewarding and humbling experience for the giver.

On the other hand, giving one dollar to a thousand people teaches you to give indiscriminately, to fight against any tendencies to assume that you know what this person is going to spend the money on. You may not make a large impact on anyone’s life, but you can bring a little more joy and abundance to a thousand people’s lives, which is also incredibly powerful.

Let’s put the receiver aside for a moment—what scenario is best for the giver? According to the Talmud, it’s better to give one dollar to a thousand people, because when you are compelled to reach into your pocket and share with someone else a thousand times, you grow your capacity for giving.

Maybe now I do not have the financial means to give a large sum of money to an individual in need, but I can, and most people can, push myself to give a little bit each day. The only way to build a habit is to do the desired task over and over again until it becomes second nature. If and when the day comes that I have more means to give larger sums of money, or more of my time or other resources, my hope is that I will be conditioned to give, and will more readily share with those in need.

Growing Your Giving Muscles at Work

Share credit as much as possible. It’s easy to feel accomplished when you can mark that task off as “done,” but remember all the people that contributed to that work. Humbly recognize that you are just a part of the picture, and acknowledge (publicly, but perhaps more importantly, to yourself) others.

Ask yourself “how can I help?” before thinking “what can I gain?” We all (or most of us) work to make money, so it’s easy to think, “I am working, therefore I do what it takes to make more money.” Generosity doesn’t work that way. As the saying goes, the more you give, the more you get, so before asking a coworker to help you with your project, or going in for the “ask” with a prospective client, stop to think: what value can I add to this person’s day/experience? When you can train yourself to first ask “how can I help?” before “how can I give?,” you will find yourself giving and getting a lot more.

Think about the next steps so others don’t have to. One of the most stressful parts of any type of business relationship is trying to anticipate the other person’s next move. By clearly communicating the next steps of whatever process you are engaged in, you are being courteous of the other person’s time and emotions. This make take some extra work on your end, but is worth it for the value you bring to others, and to yourself.

How else can you practice the habit of generosity at work?

 

Up Is Not the Only Way: Rethinking Career Mobility

Careers used to be predictable. There were ladders. Each rung led up the hierarchy. Then individual aspirations and company needs began to evolve. Old ladders became largely inaccessible. Some rungs disappeared, and the space between others shifted from steps to leaps.

Today’s marketplace demands an agile workforce. Organizational structures have become fluid and flexible. As a result, career mobility has emerged as essential for individuals at all levels. No longer is mobility just about physical movement or assuming the greater responsibilities that come with a promotion. Career mobility today is about flexibility and agility. Like the navigation systems we rely on to reroute our travels based on unexpected traffic congestion, shortcut options, and last minute detours, a career mobility mindset will provide a foundation for resilience in a changing world of work.

Up Was Never for Everyone

Move up or move out. When those two options appear to be the only ones, dissatisfaction grows and engagement suffers. In decades of studying careers around the globe, Beverly Kaye, Lindy Williams, and Lynn Cowart have found that, in fact, there are more options. And rethinking career mobility can lead you to them!

Career mobility isn’t just about moving to a new city or country. It’s about stretching, learning, and transforming. Whether you’re working on your own career or you’re a manager, a mentor, or a coach helping others, Up Is Not the Only Way offers you six ways to build successful mobile careers.

Keep the same job but discover multiple ways to learn and grow while staying in the same place. If a new job in the same company is in the cards, experiment and test possibilities. Make a lateral move as a powerful way to develop new skills. If stepping back is the right answer, discover how it can be done without derailing a career. Pursue a promotion when it’s the right time and role. And if it’s time to step out the door, the authors suggest how to make an elegant exit that maybe leaves open the possibility of a return one day.

The book includes important questions to consider—about interests, skills, values, and timing—when choosing to enrich or make a change. For each option, Up Is Not the Only Way explores how managers, coaches, and employees can have rich career conversations and partner to determine the best courses of action.

Rather than narrowing aspirations to one dream job or role, Kaye, Williams, and Cowart encourage readers to take a “kaleidoscope” view—to be open to ever-shifting patterns of options, opportunities, and possibilities—to build a rewarding career.

Meet the Authors

Beverly Kaye is an internationally recognized authority and bestselling author on career development, employee engagement and retention. She has dedicated her life’s work to helping individuals and organizations grow in a workplace that fosters greater commitment, fulfillment, and humanity. A sought after, dynamic, and committed speaker, her presentations are known for engaging participants, stimulating learning, and inspiring action. Founder of Career Systems International (CSI) a talent management company, Beverly Kaye’s innovative and cutting edge thinking have helped organizations solve their greatest challenges in employee engagement, by creating impact with measurable and sustainable results. She was among the first to recognize the importance of career development as part of an organization’s development process.

Lindy Williams is a designer and senior consultant with Career Systems International (CSI). Her extensive background in training, human resource development and career development enables her to partner with clients and internal subject matter experts in leveraging internal support processes while building innovative approaches to manage today’s issues while preparing for tomorrow’s opportunities. She has held roles in operations and human resources before stepping out of the corporate world to work on designing and implementing award-winning development processes. Lindy is a gifted speaker, workshop facilitator, career coach and author.

Lynn Cowart is the Vice President for quality delivery at Career Systems International (CSI). She brought twenty years of HR experience working with some of the most successful and powerful names in business to her current role ensuring CSI delivers solutions that are simple, engaging, flexible, and business focused. She has spoken at many conferences and facilitated executive coaching, change management, and strategic staffing initiatives for mid and senior-level executives as well as career transition programs, retention and engagement strategies, assessment interviewing, and training for all organizational levels.

What People Are Saying


“I loved how this helped me develop a game plan for my career. I see growth possibilities that I had never thought about before. If you want easy-to-read-and-apply strategies for planning your professional future, this is one of the best books I’ve ever read. Highly recommend!”

—Tami Wentzel, 5-star Amazon review

“This book is a priceless gem at a time when career moves are more confusing than ever. You will find options for yourself and a clear way to guide your vocational journey. PLUS–if you manage others, this is a great resource to help OTHERS to develop.”

—Eileen McDargh, 5-star Amazon review

“Anyone interested in career growth, meaning and purpose will be interested in this book. There are great tips not just for career advocates but for anyone who wishes to change anything about their present job/organization. I absolutely LOVE the delightfully engaging style of the writing. . . . there are many visual examples that help make the writing more visual and colorful. ”

—Lori Ann Roth, 5-star Amazon review

“This book presents a new way of thinking about career mobility. I particularly like the idea of looking at kaleidoscope-type patterns for a career. As you turn the kaleidoscope, new patterns and new opportunities present themselves. I love the format of the book – it’s easy to scan and focus on important things with the ‘word images’ and the thought provoking questions are very helpful.”

—Marian Wacek, 5-star Amazon review

Learn More

Sign up for the 30-minute private Q & A with the authors on Sept 21 at 12 PM (ET).
Buy your copy of the book, or share a review of it, on Amazon.
Visit the website to learn more, download a sample chapter, and find shareable content.

Work-Life Balance and Flexibility

Having a flexible schedule is something any employee can appreciate. As a millennial, it was something I desired, but didn’t realize how available it was fresh out of college.

The Future Workforce Desires Flexibility

Traditionally, people were led to believe one must work for several years before they acquired the level of flexibility available for the Weaving Influence Team; but thanks to the amazing abilities of accessible technology, that’s not the case.

The future workforce is very vocal about our desire to have a stable job, but also one that provides flexibility. Some may think it’s asking for too much, but considering the evolution of the human ability to connect in the 21st century, it makes sense. Having the ability to have a healthy work-life balance is desirable for any one and a flexible schedule is an avenue to obtain that.

At Weaving Influence, we are able to have flexible work schedules because we have resources that support that lifestyle. We can connect with clients from different parts of the globe and connect them with the masses all at our fingertips.

Photo credit: George Figueroa

Flexibility Creates Room for Adventure

I recently relocated from Northwest Ohio to Southern California. My fiancé and I thought about flying, but the thought of driving there would be a great way to travel and see more of the country, and it was. We were able to check out some of the lands our indigenous ancestors roamed and it was breathtaking. Flying would have definitely been easier, but with the ability to map out a trip on our phones, why not go for the adventure? Technology gave us the flexibility to change course safely and take a different path or return to the original one.

I have been eager to relocate to the West Coast for a while, and traditionally the tough part about that for anyone is making yourself hirable to a region where little-to-no professional relationships have been established.

Nevertheless, with companies like Weaving Influence who offer remote work opportunities, I can spend more time traveling — because, in a way, a job is available anywhere there’s a decent internet connection.

Flexibility Provides a Sense of Well-Being

Bob Johansen says in his new book, The New Leadership Literacies: “. . . the new ways of working will allow much greater flexibility and many more ways to make a living.”

Not only does flexible availability provide more freedom to roam for millennials like myself, but also for parents who want to cherish more time with their children and physically be more present for them.

Having the freedom to decide when to be available to work is great, even though that sometimes means being available for our clients and co-workers outside the 9-5. But honestly, I believe it brings a greater human element to the work that we do.

It’s not as simple as clocking in and out; rather, it’s trying to find the best way to establish a healthy work-life balance, all while knowing you can help others obtain and maintain one too.

 

Discover the Business of Sustainable Wine with Sandra Taylor

As a young US diplomat working in Switzerland, Sandra Taylor experienced her wine “epiphany” while visiting wineries in the nearby Burgundy region of France. Not being very educated about wines at the time, except enjoying the wines she tasted at diplomatic dinners, she was excited to explore this region with her colleagues who were experienced wine lovers.

Her first discovery was the warm welcome they received from the owners of small vineyards and wine makers as they toured wineries: “Each day ended with a delicious dinner, starting with champagne as aperitif and a different wine with each course, often-older vintages of the wines we had tasted throughout the day. They tasted so differently with the food!”

Since then, Sandra’s wine travels and studies have allowed her to get to know the geography, geology, and distinct grapes and tastes of wines from different regions.

“I have often fallen in love with the tantalizing mix of culture and cuisine – the food, the wine, coffee and tea — that are integral to a country’s identity. And I learned that for wine, it’s all about the grapes.”

Meet Sandra Taylor

As an internationally recognized expert on environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and sustainable agriculture, Sandra Taylor specializes in sustainability in food and beverage and consumer products companies. Taylor spent many years as a U.S. diplomat and as an executive with global corporations, where she directed Corporate Responsibility strategies and programs. Currently, she is CEO of Sustainable Business International LLC, a consulting business that assists companies at various stages of environmental and corporate social responsibility (CSR) practice.

Taylor’s unique blend of talents and leadership experience include legal training, corporate executive roles, marketing, and international commercial project design. She is a public speaker on wine for business audiences; a wine educator; and founder of Fine Wine Divas of Washington, D.C., an adventure in learning for women wine enthusiasts who attend monthly sessions to learn about wine regions, origins, sustainable growing practices, and how to identify and express their tastes and sensations in fine wine.

She is also a writer and a published author. She has written articles about supply chain management, marketing sustainability, and motivations for environmental and social responsibility in wine value chains. Her first book, The Business of Sustainable Wine: How to Build Brand Equity in a 21st Century Wine Industry, was released in July 2017.

The Business of Sustainable Wine

Modern agriculture is the largest single contributor to global greenhouse gas production, deforestation, and water consumption. Biodiversity, climate change, energy, soil degradation, and water scarcity are critical issues. Consumers are increasingly and justifiably concerned about where their food and beverages come from and whether they are produced in a responsible way, often without an understanding of how to determine the provenance of the products they consume. Wine is no exception.

The Business of Sustainable Wine offers a new view of how the industry can be an important actor in sustainable agriculture, and provides a unique insight for the consumer on what to look for on supermarket shelves, by analyzing sustainability trends in wine regions around the world. Drawing on case studies from a multitude of commodity industries, consumer products and consumer packaged goods, Taylor gives producers the tools to integrate sustainability into their winegrowing, branding, and marketing; and retailers’ procurement managers will learn how to assess sustainable attributes of wines on offer. Like fair trade cocoa and shade grown coffee, wine must, sooner or later, meet the powerful demands of social activists and a growing consumer contingent for ethical and organic products.

Learn More

Visit DiscoverSustainableWine.com to learn more about best practices, sustainable vineyards, and Sandra Taylor’s wine recommendations.
Buy a copy of the book or share a quick review of it on Amazon.

Flexibility, Autonomy, and Work-Life Integration

Remember when work-life balance was the goal of the well-rounded business person? You were told to keep your personal life at home and your business at work. But with the growing use of mobile phones, email and the internet those lines got blurred. The new phrase is work-life integration, which more mirrors reality.

While some might chafe under the cross-contamination, I personally enjoy it as a solopreneur. I see the flexibility to switch between the two segments as a key to autonomy, which is a major component to the optimal motivation spoken of by motivation expert Susan Fowler.

According to Susan, autonomy “is people’s need to perceive that they have choices, that what they are doing is of their own volition, and that they are the source of their own actions.” Obviously, there are people that will view taking business calls outside of work as an attack on their “choice” to disconnect. But to me, the flexibility goes both ways. Sure, you might have to do an after-hours email — but is it worth it to be able to check out early for a family event later? To me, it is.

For over seven years, the ability to create my own schedule, set my own work environment, make my own rules, and succeed . . . or fail . . . by my own careful planning (or lack thereof) was my own. It hasn’t been easy. I’ve certainly been tempted and had suggestions delicately directed my way to get a “real job.” But how do you explain the value of flexibility? And the benefits of autonomy – the ability to have and make actual choices about my work-life integration?

That flexibility allowed me to take my mom to work and doctor appointments, leave in the middle of the day to get to the accident scene of my sister, and sit with my husband when a family emergency brought us to the hospital. Those are occasions when life crashed in on work unannounced — and the flexibility of work made room for it.

Flexibility, autonomy, and work-life integration form the work of the future. Millennials are clamoring for work with meaning — work that places value on the really meaningful things in life, like family and community. Businesses are exploring ways to make work flexible and give more autonomy to employees. Employees are embracing work-life integration as they look at how different work — and even different jobs — enrich their personal lives.

I truly believe this is the direction of the business world. The days of sticking to the 9-5, with a top-down approach to work, is fading fast. The value of autonomy and flexibility in work-life decisions is increasing. With all the ups and downs that come with being a solopreneur, the benefits far outweigh the struggles. After seven years, I truly appreciate, the freedom that a flexible work environment affords me.

Work-life integration doesn’t have to be a negative thing.

I encourage everyone to look for ways to create more flexibility and increase autonomy as this trend increases in the work world. You’ll find it can help achieve more satisfaction in both your work and personal life.

Take Charge of Your Feelings with The Mood Elevator

Mood swings. We all experience them from time to time, whether as a result of fluctuating hormones or changes in circumstance or fluctuating energy levels. But what if we could learn to level out those swings, and keep ourselves at the upper end of things? What if you knew how to control your moods despite the harsh rumors at work, discouraging news headlines, disagreements with family, or other undesired turns of events?

Think of your moods like an elevator, and you’ll quickly recognize that you ride up and down it every single day, sometimes more than once. That’s normal, right? But it doesn’t have to be! As the author of today’s book points out: “There may be events that stimulate our thoughts, but it is the thoughts that determine our moods.” We can learn to control our mood swings by controlling our thoughts — no matter what’s happening around us — and enjoy a nice long stay at the top levels of the Mood Elevator.

Discover ‘The Mood Elevator’

We all ride the Mood Elevator up and down every day. How well we do it impacts our relationship, our personal effectiveness, our career, and our experience of life. Most people take that ride for granted and don’t think it can be influenced. But what if we knew the right buttons to push to move to the top of the Mood Elevator? Wouldn’t it be useful if there were proven ways to make visits to the lower floors less frequent and less intense?

In this very practical guide, Larry Senn provides an operating manual to keep you out of the emotional basement. He shows how to recognize when you’ve become so accustomed to being stuck on a lower floor – worried, stressed, anxious, and judgmental – you don’t even realize it, and what to do to interrupt those negative thought patterns and start going up again. He urges us to cultivate mental attitudes like curiosity and gratitude that will keep us on the higher floors, and explains how to quiet the mind and nurture positive thoughts without succumbing to Pollyanna-ish denial. And as someone who took up triathlons at the age of seventy, he speaks from experience when he emphasizes the inseparable connection between physical health and mental health.

Meet Larry Senn

Dr. Larry Senn is the founder of Senn Delaney, the culture shaping unit of Heidrick & Struggles. He has been referred to in business journals as the father of corporate culture, based on his pioneering research on organizational culture. Senn Delaney has worked with over 100 Fortune 500 CEOs and their teams, university presidents, state governors, and members of U.S. presidential cabinets.

Larry’s personal purpose is to help an ever-widening number of people live life at their best mentally, emotionally, physically, and purposefully. The Mood Elevator is one tool he has created to make that a reality for tens of thousands of people. Larry is a culture consultant, highly-rated conference presenter, and author. His earlier books include the best-selling book Winning Teams, Winning Cultures and 21st Century Leadership.

What People Are Saying

“I am impressed by the proof that Larry Senn presented in how mood changes thoughts on a personal level and culture on a corporate level. Whether you want to improve your outlook and behaviors in your life or improve what happens at work, this book will teach you. These sixteen chapters make sense, especially in these turbulent times.”

— Jane Anderson, 5-star Amazon review

“This small book packs a whole lot of punch. It strengthened my ability to learn how to stop, breathe, and trace my thoughts. Mindfulness is a new found path for me, and this book helps me continue to follow it.”

— Patricia Lomelin, 5-star Amazon review

“The value of ‘The Mood Elevator’ is not just in bringing new ideas to the attention of us all … it’s in the comprehensive and engaging packaging of that information. The author has a conversational style, well seasoned with real-life examples (sometimes using himself), and a nice way of wrapping each section up and tying it to the others.”

— John Smith, 5-star Amazon review

“Larry Senn uses scientific research, personal experience, and effective anecdotes to help readers find their own path to understanding what moods mean and how to be in control of them. Not a positive thinking book, ‘The Mood Elevator’ offers real, useable information that everyone can benefit from. It’s logically laid out, the right kind of challenging, and worth reading a second time.”

— Dawn-Marie, 5-star Amazon review

Learn More

Visit the website to download a sample chapter, watch the video trailer, access the free Mood Elevator graphic, and find tweets and graphics to share across your networks.
Watch the recent webinar with Larry, where he shares more about transforming our lives simply by becoming more aware of our moods.
Add the book to your Goodreads shelf.
Buy your copy or share a review on Amazon.