Becky Robinson's Blog, page 46

Leadership Lessons from 4 Years with Weaving Influence

This past month marked my four-year work anniversary with Weaving Influence. Although I only work part-time, the job has had a full-time impact on me in so many ways. Here are just four of the lessons I’ve learned over the past four years.

Start where you are.

As with many of my team members here at Weaving Influence, the story of how I came to be a part of the team is an unlikely one. I had been sidelined from work for a few years, due to severe physical difficulties, and had pretty much given up trying to find a job that would fit both my abilities and limitations. I didn’t want to sit around doing nothing, so I started a blog (and incidentally, wrote a book about dealing with illness), and threw myself into that as if it were a new job.

I spent many hours on Facebook and Twitter, learning the in’s and out’s of social media promotion and networking. I followed other blogs, and started connecting with some of their authors. Somehow I found Carrie Koens’ blog and we started communicating, first via blog comments and then later through Facebook. Eventually I found out about her work for Weaving Influence, which I thought was fascinating, and started following Becky and some of the other team members on Twitter.

Meanwhile, I kept writing for my own blog and promoting it on social media, showing up like a boss for the one small task I could carry out faithfully. One afternoon, Carrie sent me a message on Facebook: “So… did I see somewhere that you did editing for a living?”

I replied that I enjoyed it, and would love to find consistent editing work, but nothing had ever panned out. Then I took a risk and asked: “Do you know anywhere that needs part-time help on a regular basis?”

Her reply: “Not at the moment, but I’ll keep my ears open. Would you be interested in doing any social media work? . . . I’m not offering anything, just trying to get a sense of what you might be open to do in case I hear of something.”

Well, that conversation led to a series of emails, which led to my doing a few one-time tasks for Weaving Influence, which led to a permanent job offer in April 2013. And to think it all happened because I decided to show up and focus on the little things I could do, instead of waiting around for something bigger or better to come along. Faithfulness in small responsibilities often leads to opportunities for greater responsibility.

Growth happens in the discomfort zone.

When I started four years ago, I had little-to-no experience dealing with the corporate world. I grew up in a ministry family, and still serve in a ministry family. Add to that fact that, as an introvert, I’m very happy doing behind-the-scenes work — and you’ll understand how nervous I was the first time I had to speak with a CEO about my work for him.

But I’ve come to realize that people are the same everywhere, no matter what their titles are; and most people care less about your “polish” or business-savvy and more about your integrity, dependability, and personableness. Mistakes happen; but most people won’t roast you over the flames if you own up to the problem and make every effort to avoid making the same mistake twice. Misunderstandings happen; but clear statements of expectations can clear up a lot of confusion, and most people don’t really expect you to be a mind-reader!

I’ve grown in confidence, both as a person and as a professional, by pushing outside my comfort zone in the work I do for Weaving Influence. Whether it’s tackling unfamiliar tasks, learning about new social media platforms, or simply being faithful in my work when I’m not feeling the greatest, there’s always discomfort. But that’s okay — because it means there’s always room to grow.

Values matter.

The first year I was on the team, we set about defining our core values. I still remember the acronym Becky shared with us to help us recall each of our values: G.R.I.P.G.F. It probably doesn’t mean anything to you, but those letters keep the list on the tip of my tongue: Generosity, Responsiveness, Integrity, Partnership, Growth, and Flexibility. (To learn more about each of them, read this.)

Those values aren’t just words to us: we didn’t just stop at naming and defining them. We’ve worked together as a team to analyze where we’re failing or excelling, discuss what we need to keep moving in the right direction, and brainstorm what we can do to keep improving in our service to clients and our work with each other. And the funny thing is, as we become more familiar with each of our values, they start to guide not only our “big” decisions but our day-to-day tasks as well.

For instance:

When I get an urgent message at an inopportune time, I find myself remembering: responsiveness matters — and my attitude improves, and I no longer see it as an interruption but as an opportunity to live our value.
When I receive a request that doesn’t fit with my preferences, but is something I probably should take responsibility for, I remember: flexibility matters — and I find myself stepping up with a can-do attitude and an eagerness to serve others.
When someone asks me for help, and I’m tempted to offer the quickest response possible because I’m pressed for time or energy, I remember: generosity matters — and I take a moment to pause, reset my focus, and step back in willing to provide the best help I can possibly offer.

“Values matter” may sound like a trite slogan, but it’s not. Knowing and living by your values can make a world of difference, at both the company and individual levels.

Everyone can be a leader.

Hang out with Weaving Influence long enough, and you’ll get a profusion of leadership advice. From being a servant leader, to having courage, to handling conflict wisely, to creating a successful workplace culture . . . if it pertains to leadership, we’ve probably said it or promoted at some time or other. And while much of what we share is sage advice from experts on the subject, a lot of it starts to sound the same after a while.

So I was surprised when one of those nuggets hit home for me just in the past year. Due to a team member moving on, there were some gaps in responsibilities, and some tasks and decisions that came across my radar which I was equipped to handle. But first I had to get over the hurdle that I didn’t have a leadership title — and realize I didn’t need permission to take ownership or responsibility where appropriate.

It was freeing . . . and empowering. I’ve found myself stepping up in other ways since, and have come to appreciate the gold mine in that statement: “You don’t need permission to be a leader.” You don’t need a leadership title or a formal group of followers: anyone, at any level, can be a leader.

I’m looking forward to learning many more valuable lessons in the future as I continue serving with Weaving Influence!

Featured on Friday: Conflict without Casualties by Nate Regier

Drama and conflict usually go together like peas and carrots, don’t they? In fact, a quick search of those two words on Amazon reveals almost 1000 books on the topic! That either means we have a real problem with it — or we really want to know what to do about it — or both.

But conflict doesn’t have to be fraught with tension and negativity. It doesn’t have to ruin relationships, waste resources, or frustrate ambitions. In fact, today’s featured author believes we can leverage conflict as a source of positive energy, that will both nurture stronger relationships and use resources more effectively. Handling conflict with compassionate accountability, rather than responding to it with emotion and drama, can transform the dynamics at work and in our personal lives by replacing unrealistic, crushing demands with openness, resourcefulness, and persistence.

Meet the Author — Nate Regier

Nate Regier, Ph.D., grew up as the son of missionary parents in Botswana and Zaire, where he developed his passion for service, love of people, and fascination with the common needs that tie all people together. Growing up amidst political unrest, poverty, and apartheid helped form his global perspective. While in Botswana during high school, he competed on the Botswana Jr. Davis Cup tennis team and achieved a world-ranking in doubles.

A native Kansan, Dr. Regier completed his undergraduate work at Bethel College in Newton, KS, and his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from University of Kansas. He practiced clinical psychology for eleven years, while he developed his skills in social-emotional intelligence, group dynamics, mind-body-spirit health, and neuropsychology. In 2008, he joined three other colleagues to form Next Element, where they leveraged their expertise in the social sciences to help leaders in the corporate arena. Nate specializes in interpersonal and leadership communication, executive assessment and coaching, organizational development, team building, and change management.

An international advisor, he is a certified LOD® master trainer, PCM® certifying master trainer, and co-developer of Next Element’s Leading Out of Drama® training and coaching system. He was the principal driving force behind the design and validation of NEOS®, Next Element’s flagship outcomes measurement tool. He is co-author of Next Element’s first book, Beyond Drama: Transcending Energy Vampires; and author of the recently released book, Conflict without Casualties. Nate also publishes a semi-weekly blog, writes for a variety of local and national publications, and is a sought-after keynote speaker.

Nate and his wife of 23 years live in Newton, KS. They have three daughters, the oldest of whom is in college at Pittsburgh State University. In his spare time, he loves to barbecue and is a member of a competition BBQ team. Vacations to Colorado, spending time working on his yard, and camping with friends are some of the things that fill Nate with joy.

Want to connect with Nate? Visit his website, or find him on Facebook or Twitter.

Discover the Book — Conflict without Casualties

Clinical psychologist and transformative communication expert Dr. Nate Regier believes that the biggest energy crisis facing our world is the misuse of conflict. Most organizations are terrified of conflict, seeing it as a sign of trouble. Life and work are a constant tug of war when people struggle against each other or with themselves to get what they want, causing relationships and entire systems to unravel. But conflict isn’t the problem. It’s all about how we use the energy.

When people misuse conflict energy, it becomes drama: they struggle against themselves or each other to feel justified about their negative behavior. The cost to companies, teams, and relationships is staggering. The alternative, says Regier, is compassionate accountability: struggling with others through conflict. Discover the Compassion Cycle, an elegant model for balancing empathy, care, and transparency with boundaries, goals, and standards. Provocative, illuminating, and highly practical, this book helps us avoid the casualties of conflict through openness, resourcefulness, and persistence.

Intrigued? Visit the book site, add it to your Goodreads shelf, or buy a copy on Amazon.

What People Are Saying

“As an HR Manager, I often am exposed to leaders that view conflict as bad or as something to be avoided or discouraged. This book sheds much needed light on why conflict is anything but, how to avoid the drama and turn this seemingly negative energy into a long list of positives. Highly recommend this read for leaders that would like to curtail the drama in their workplace.”

— Tiffany Hastings, 5-star Amazon review

“Recently I was able to use the concepts of the book to talk to a friend who was in complete despair . . . I showed empathy without becoming her drama ally. I invited her to move to problem solving rather than giving her unsolicited advice, and helped her define her boundaries and commitment for the relationship going forward. At the end of our short conversation, she was ready to embrace her relationship in the compassionate accountability way. The concepts in the book are tried and true!”

— Sandra Gieber, 5-star Amazon review

“Rather than conflict as something to avoid or manage, Regier invites all of us, from boardroom to playground, to embrace the creative energy of conflict . . . ‘Conflict Without Casualties’ truly is a book that is accessible to a diverse audience! I anticipate sharing it with groups of clergy and local congregation leaders who want to sharpen their skills in harnessing the creative energy of conflict rather than surrendering to it. The tools are practicable, productive, and personal. And, I am confident, when implemented will lead to living a more whole-hearted and healthy life.”

— Ashlee Alley, 5-star Amazon review

“Page after page, it has a model for compassionate accountability that can be used to transform conflict into positive change. We can give up the drama of conflict without giving up its energy. We can ensure that people retain their dignity but that conflict gets resolved.”

— R. McConaughy, 5-star Amazon review

“Conflict doesn’t need to be a dirty word and we should snap to attention when it rears up because it means that people may be passionate about something and willing to stand up for what they believe. Nate shows us how conflict should be viewed as a creative force because there is often so much energy behind it. Nate asserts how conflict can be turned around and utilized to grow innovation, build trust, and further engage people. His views will help you change your perspective on conflict, people, and how it can be used to make us more accountable.”

— Lisa Kosak, 5-star Amazon review

Learn More

Visit the website to learn more about both the author and the book, download the first two chapters for free, and take the ‘Drama Resilience Assessment.’ Also, if you missed the recent webinar with Nate about ‘Compassionate Accountability in Action,’ watch the replay here.

Lessons on Centeredness From a Missing Cardboard Tube

A few years ago, when I saw advertisements for toilet paper rolls that did not have cardboard tubes in the middle, I thought the next new wave of efficiency and waste reduction had truly arrived. Without the cardboard tubes, consumers would no longer have to figure out how to recycle them if they wanted to be environmentally friendly. Entire Pinterest boards dedicated to cardboard tube crafts would be rendered obsolete. When a roll was used up, only air would take up the space previously occupied by a cardboard roll.

It seemed to take a while for the tubeless rolls to make it to Tallahassee, but I was elated when I found them. No more tubes to keep up with! A win-win for the environment and one less thing to manage in our weekly trash process.

As it turns out, tubeless toilet paper rolls are a lot like our inner lives — we may think we are being more efficient by getting rid of something that appears to just be taking up room — but consistent, firm, centering structure serves more of a purpose than we realize.

The cardboard tube keeps the roll spinning smoothly. Without a core, the roll bumps and hesitates as its circles the spindle. Without a solid structure, everything slows down and gets confusing.

Silence distances us from keeping in touch with progress. At the risk of delving into everyone’s private constitutional habits here on the Weaving Influence blog, let’s put it this way: with a tube in place, you can hear that the tube is turning. Its reassuring background audio that confirms the roll is spinning as planned.

The center can easily collapse. If you have ever grabbed a roll of toilet paper for whatever reason (any parent can tell you that it’s sometimes necessary to physically grab the roll to keep an over-enthusiastic toddler from using ten times the necessary amount of toilet paper), you know the tube stays rigid and helps you stabilize the roll-in-motion. Without the tube, you grab the roll and everything collapses. Starting over becomes more of an effort than it needs to be.

You don’t know when you’ve come to the end of the process. With toilet paper on a traditional roll, at the point where you reach the last square or two, you have to give a little tug to separate the last square from the roll because it is attached by a dab of glue. Not so with tubeless. You just find yourself, mid-constitutional, forlornly holding that last square, staring at the spindle, wondering why you are surprised that it is over.

It is trendy right now to talk about mindfulness and being “centered.” I would be a hypocrite to come to this space and try to tell you how to do either one of those things. Although I may be struggling to be any kind of role model or raise up my life as an example of centeredness, as a parent, professional, spouse, friend, and advocate, I know that it is all too easy to strip away what seems like an intrusive “extra piece” in order to try to refine and minimize, when in reality the best investment we can make is putting in place a mindset and choices that remind us what we stand for and how we got here.

One key tenet of mindfulness is learning to stay present amidst of a world throwing distractions at us at an ever-accelerating rate. Sarah Rudell Beach, creator of Left Brain Buddha, writes, “The essence of mindfulness is present-moment awareness.”

Deepak Chopra writes:

“. . . in reality, most people have spent a lifetime learning how to manage and organize their outer life, paying scant attention to what goes on inside. Yet what goes on inside precedes everything external, shapes it, and allows you to understand and respond. Until you develop skills in awareness, you haven’t fully embraced a conscious lifestyle.”

I see the cardboard tube, which I thought I would be so happy to be rid of, as a metaphor for the present-moment awareness we all so desperately need.

Without a firm central core, I’m left aimlessly grasping for air.

Featured on Friday: Eat That Frog! by @BrianTracy

Have you ever tried to eat a live frog? My guess is: probably not. (If you have, please share your story with us!) They say the worst part is getting started — taking that first bite, chewing it, swallowing it. If you’re like most people, even if you wanted to eat the frog (which, however, is not like most people), you would spend your time doing everything but sitting down and getting started: setting up the table just right, positioning the trashcan for convenient access, snapping photos of the frog and posting it on social media, etc.

Have you ever tried to juggle too many important responsibilities or master a never-ending to-do list of critical tasks? My guess is: probably. Isn’t the hardest part to that also sitting down and getting started, rather than frittering your time away getting “prepared” and doing everything but tackling the tasks at hand?

Today’s featured author spent years early on in his career studying the habits of successful people, and eventually concluded that doing our most important work like eating that live frog. Both are tasks that will have great impact on our lives going forward, but both are things we’re most likely to procrastinate doing for one reason or another. Maybe we don’t want to put forth the effort, or maybe we simply don’t know how to get them done. But that procrastination ends up stalling our careers, frustrating our plans and ambitions, and leaving us generally dissatisfied with our trajectory in life. His bestselling book, now in its third edition, shares 21 practical steps that have been proven to help fight that procrastination and increase our productivity, performance, value, and output.

Meet the Author — Brian Tracy

Brian Tracy is one of the top business speakers in the world today. He has designed and presented seminars for more than 1,000 large companies and more than 10,000 small and medium-sized enterprises in 75 countries on the subjects of leadership, management, professional selling, business model reinvention, and profit improvement.

He has addressed more than 5,000,000 people in more than 5,000 talks and presentations worldwide. He currently speaks to 250,000 people per year. His fast-moving, entertaining video-based training programs are taught in 38 countries.

As a bestselling author, Brian Tracy has written more than 80 books that have been translated into 42 languages, including Kiss That Frog!, Find Your Balance Point, Goals!, Flight Plan, Maximum Achievement, No Excuses!, Advanced Selling Strategies, and How The Best Leaders Lead.

Brian is happily married, with four children and five grandchildren. He is the president of Brian Tracy International and lives in Solana Beach, California.

Want to connect with Brian? Visit his website or find him on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or YouTube.

Discover the Book — Eat That Frog!

There just isn’t enough time for everything on our to-do list—and there never will be. Successful people don’t try to do everything. They learn to focus on the most important tasks and make sure those get done. They eat their frogs.

There’s an old saying that if the first thing you do each morning is eat a live frog, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you’re done with the worst thing you’ll have to do all day. For Tracy, eating a frog is a metaphor for tackling your most challenging task—but also the one that can have the greatest positive impact on your life. Eat That Frog! shows you how to organize each day so you can zero in on these critical tasks and accomplish them efficiently and effectively.

In this fully revised and updated edition, Tracy adds two new chapters. The first explains how you can use technology to remind yourself of what is most important and protect yourself from what is least important. The second offers advice for maintaining focus in our era of constant distractions, electronic and otherwise.

But one thing remains unchanged: Brian Tracy cuts to the core of what is vital to effective time management: decision, discipline, and determination. This life-changing book will ensure that you get more of your important tasks done—today!

Intrigued? Visit the book site, add it to your Goodreads shelf, or buy a copy on Amazon.

What People Are Saying

“‘Eat That Frog!’ is a short book, but with big messages; at 119 pages, I believe the average reader could easily read it in just a couple of hours. The sections are short, and I like the index. This would be a wonderful graduation gift for just about anyone.”

— Rebecca Henderson, 5-star Amazon review

“I had tried more motivational tricks and tips over the years and no one gives sound advice better than Brian Tracy. ‘Eat That Frog!’ gobbles up any other resource on procrastination or goal setting in the market.”

— Lisa Kosak, 5-star Amazon review

“This is a short, fast read. It has enough detail to make it worth reading, but at the same time it is not so process heavy that it is hard to get through. . . . it doesn’t go into all the psychology of procrastination; rather, it gets right to the action.”

— Leslie Gornig, 5-star Amazon review

“Mr. Tracy is one of the most venerated experts on performance and productivity. Yet, his book is practical, written in a highly readable style, full of energetic stories that infuse readers with an understanding of how they can apply relevant practices to their own experience.”

— Jane Anderson, 5-star Amazon review

“I highly recommend ‘Eat That Frog!’ as a tool for increased impact and effectiveness. Read one chapter each day, reflect on the questions, and follow through on the exercises. You will increase your awareness of how you use your time and change your behaviors to become more productive.“

— Jon Lokhorst, 5-star Amazon review

Learn More

Visit the book site to learn more about download a free sample chapter, request a free sticker, and learn about the associated workbook & card deck. While there, take a moment to share one of the beautiful book-related graphics or tweets! Also, if you missed the recent webinar with Brian Tracy, watch the replay here.

Can a Woman Ever NOT Multi-task?

There is all sorts of condemnation online and in books about multi-tasking. It’s unproductive. You don’t get anything done. You feel like you haven’t accomplished anything even when you’re busy. And on and on.

It’s discouraging. Especially as a woman who is easily distracted by the squirrels of life. Am I doomed to failure because focusing is so much harder in a world with email and social media notifications? And cat videos on YouTube?

And isn’t there a book comparing men to waffles and women to spaghetti? Spaghetti??? Does that sound like a person that operates their entire life in a neat, linear, and organized fashion?

Can I get an “Amen!” from all those women out there juggling careers, relationships, errands, volunteer events, school, kids, laundry, doctor/dentist/eye appointments, cooking, etc.?!

I’ve tried the techniques to eradicate multi-tasking. Making to-do lists, turning off notifications, and jotting down ideas that wander through my stream of consciousness if I’m in the middle of another task. I have so many little Post-its with notes all over that my desk looks like an April Fool’s joke. I’m writing this and thinking about dinner, finding a new primary care physician, and wondering when to take the ham down for Easter. I rest my case.

I used to think that all the thoughts I processed in my head counted against me for multi-tasking. I was trying to remember grocery lists and client calls and special projects and marketing ideas while working, and I felt condemned. Destined to live an unproductive life.

Why? Because those articles said so.

I wasn’t focused. I wasn’t all in. I wasn’t giving 110% to the task at hand. Or to life goals. I was *gasp* distracted.

But you know what? I still got articles done. I still cooked meals. I still did excellent work for clients. I took time to feed my spirit. Workout. Love on friends and snuggle with my hubby. I made phone calls, wrote emails, wrote down plans, and created proposals.

Am I where I want to be? No. I can’t do everything. I have to prioritize projects. And I have an ever-fertile mind of curiosity that continuously spits out new ideas to tackle. Could I be a lot more organized? Sure!

But I’m done condemning myself. I’m not going to let the fact that my life mimics a roller coaster more often than not make me feel like I’ll never reach my potential. The fact that my brain is processing multiple projects and I’m STILL being productive is an asset, not a liability. I’m not going to accept the premise that whatever I do is less-than because it was done amongst competing attention-grabbers.

I’m not going to lie. There are days I crush the to-do list, and days I wonder what the heck I did all day — even with a to-do list. There are days I can force all those thoughts into a linear fashion, and other days where I bounce from competing priorities.

I don’t claim to have all the answers or a scientific fall-back. What I do have is ENCOURAGEMENT, especially to the women out there who feel like they’re doing it ALL.

Don’t let them make you feel defective because you won’t “focus” on a career instead of your family. Or that you’re not “all in” because you’re cooking while listening to a podcast. Or if you remember something really important and it requires you to put the current task on hold. Life will do that to your perfect 3-point to-do list anyway. You’ll still get to where you’re going.

Always work on ways to better yourself. If you can make changes, go for it! But ladies, we’re not waffles. Our lives will very rarely be compartmentalized. And we’ll feel ourselves pulled in a host of different directions — sometimes all at once. You’re not a failure. You’re not doomed to an unproductive life. You can still accomplish wonderful things and reach your potential. And for those of us who are married, I’m pretty certain that our husbands appreciate the fact that we can multi-task.

What am I saying?

Maybe we should worry less about how we can’t seem to get it together and more about optimizing how we’re wired to accomplish more.

I believe that women are wired to multi-task. Stop condemning how you’re wired and celebrate it! Maybe we’ll find ourselves accomplishing more when we do.

Featured on Friday: What’s New with @HometownReads

We’re taking a break from our regularly scheduled Friday programming (a.k.a., book launches!) to share some exciting updates for Hometown Reads! Not sure what that is? Hometown Reads is a division of Weaving Influence dedicated to connecting authors across the country with readers in their hometowns, through the #ReadLocal movement. The Hometown Reads website is the first of its kind to organize authors by local community, a design intended to facilitate both networking for authors and exposure/connection to more readers.

#ReadLocal Movement

Hometown Reads officially launched in March 2016. Now, barely a year later, the community has just launched its 50th city (Nashville, TN) and showcases over 1,500 books on the site! Published authors can create an account; add their bio, headshot, and hometown (even if it hasn’t been “launched” yet); list up to four books, including publication information and “buy now” links; and share a link to their personal website, if desired. We also recently added “Find Me Local” buttons that allow authors to link their book to a local bookstore, library, or other resource to further grow the #ReadLocal community.

Speaking of libraries and bookstores — in an effort to direct readers to local sources for purchasing or borrowing books, the option to join Hometown Reads is now available not only to authors and readers, but also bookstores and local libraries! As we continue on the path to incorporating the whole community, particularly seeking to forge strong connections with local libraries and bookstores, we are also working on an Ambassador program, where local authors can volunteer to champion their hometown’s growth and involvement in the #ReadLocal movement.

Hometown Authors

Authors, bookstore owners, libraries workers, and even readers will also find value in the Hometown Authors blog, which features guest posts from various Hometown Reads authors about their own book marketing journeys, encouragement for newly published authors, and tools to help authors connect with their audiences (including tips that might be of interest to local libraries and bookstores).

Since February of this year, we have been holding Thursday Connect, a bi-weekly, casual, virtual gathering for authors anywhere who are interested in learning more about Hometown Reads, contributing to the community as Ambassadors, or partnering with us to reach more readers and fuel the #ReadLocal movement. Interested in joining? Learn more here. We’ve also recently added a weekly newsletter for our authors, with important updates and ways to get involved further.

Join the Movement

Whatever your role in the community, you can be an active part of expanding the #ReadLocal movement!

Authors who want to see your book or city featured on Hometown Reads, join here.
Readers who want to discover great books from your hometown, join here.
Bookstores who want to feature and support local authors, join here.
Libraries who want to connect readers and authors in your community, join here.

Have questions about Hometown Reads, or want to connect with us further? Find us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, or send us an email!

Are You Producing a Book in 2017?

The experience of being an author has dramatically changed in recent years. On the plus side, easy access to publishing, editing, and online marketing have allowed so many talented voices to share their messages with diverse audiences in an unprecedented way.

However, as the options for independent authors have increased tenfold, so has the confusion. Many authors find themselves with manuscripts or plans for manuscripts, but no idea of how to navigate the publication process.

Lori Weidert, our Book Production Editor, answered some frequently asked questions about the book production process:

What is the difference between design and typesetting?

The word “typesetter” conjures up images of metal letters and a giant press to most people, and the word “compositor” draws a complete blank. I’ve taken to explaining it with an analogy: the Designer works as the “architect” of the project, mapping out the appearance and the beautiful elements; and the typesetter is the engineer, or construction worker–building the book to the specifications in that “blueprint.”

Typesetting involves ensuring that every word or paragraph has a proper appearance–a head, a bullet, or a graphic; that spacing around elements is correct; that word, line, and page breaks are proper.

A good book designer and typesetter will always keep the reader in mind–it should be aesthetically pleasing, and assembled so as not to break a reader’s stride.

What are the biggest challenges in self-publishing? Benefits?

Marketing and sales are most challenging in self-publishing. An individual author, and often very small companies, do not have the resources to thoroughly reach out to their target audience. It can be expensive and an exorbitant amount of work–websites, emails, advertising can require an entire team of people to carry out. Distribution is always a difficult decision, also–do you fill your garage with copies of your book and sell them yourself, or hire a third party to take care of collecting fees, shipping, and delivering? These are the details that Weaving Influence helps with the most.

The benefits include more control over the process, a smaller barrier to entry, a larger profit on individual books sold, and allow all of the decisions about the book to be made by the author.

How long does it usually take a book to move from manuscript to published?

This depends on the nature of the book. The content and length of the manuscript varies from book to book. Books that contain heads and straight text can be produced quickly. Those with many elements–tables, boxes, graphics, extracts, quotes, etc.–take a bit longer, as each of those items have to be assembled, and then “fit” into the text in a logical manner.

The normal production stages are:

Typeset
Proofread
Correct/Revise
Proofread again
Correct Again
Print

If everything goes smoothly, 8-10 weeks is a very comfortable schedule. That timeline can be condensed and rushed, or spread out for rewrites and take several months, or a year or more.

Weaving Influence is proud to have produced a number of books—from start to finish—for our partners. We would love to be your guide in answering the above questions and more, with the ultimate goal of bringing your book to publication!

We offer a wide range of book production services, including:

Professional editing
Book cover design
Interior design
Typesetting
Design for Kindle conversion through Amazon
Createspace and Amazon support
Marketing strategy and support

Some examples of recent book production projects include:

Lilac Dreams: My Journey From a Sewer Drain to the Boardroom by Bonnie Hathcock
The Servant Leadership Journal: An 18 Week Journey to Transform You and Your Organization  by Art Barter
Leading Jesus’ Way by Mark Deterding

We would love to partner with you to bring your book to life! Send us an email to get the conversation going.

Featured on Friday: Stop Guessing by Nat Greene

We all suffer from hard problems that seem unsolvable. They exist in every home, every business, every community. They keep you awake at night, waste your time and money, chase away your dreams, and eat away at your confidence. Our normal attempts to tackle those challenges might include following our heart, losing hours in research before narrowing down the best option, waffling between choices until you’re forced to make a decision, or ignoring the problem until things the situation explodes like a mushroom cloud.

Even after all those attempts, sometimes your final decision comes down to simply guessing at the best option. But what if there was a better way?

Today’s featured author wants to see you bypass all that stress and become the best problem-solver you can be! He’s pinpointed nine specific behaviors that can stop wasting time and money (and sleep) and give you confidence to solve the hard problems, build alignment to implement the right solution, identify more important and valuable opportunities that are being ignored, and even help others to be better problem‐solvers.

Meet the Author — Nat Greene

Nat Greene is a business leader, author, and champion of great problem-solving. He helps smart people make radically better decisions, and all his activities and interests are tied to this mission. Nat helped found and run Stroud international and is the author of two books: Wedged is a look into some of the drivers behind political dysfunction in the US, and Stop Guessing explores the behaviors of great problem-solvers.

Nat’s upbringing ingrained an intense drive to help people develop an Abundant Thinking mindset, understanding that more is always possible. He was born and raised in Hong Kong during a period of immense growth in social mobility, influenced by not only dreamers but also by those looking to push educational and professional boundaries. His father, a professor of material science, taught him about problem-solving at a young age by taking him around the city and helping him to explore what was broken and why.

Nat remains inspired by the belief that anything is possible, and has chosen to dedicate his life to productively challenging the conventional limits of the status quo. He takes an approach that is hands-on, data-driven, and follows a rigorous process to break constraints. He always delivers results–a model Stroud follows. Nat’s curiosity, determination, and passion extends beyond his work to every corner of his life. He enjoys spending time with his family, and learns a great deal from his children, who are not bound by the same pre-conceived notions and experiences that constrain many adults. Nat, his wife, and four children reside in Marblehead, Massachusetts, by the ocean, a symbol of infinite possibility that inspires him.

Nat has a Masters of Engineering from Oxford University and studied design, manufacturing and management at Cambridge University, in addition to executive education coursework in Harvard Business School’s Owner/President Management program.

Want to connect with Nat? Visit his website, find him on LinkedIn, or send him an email.

Discover the Book — Stop Guessing

Bad problem solving costs individuals and society incalculable amounts of time, money, and sanity. Great problem-solvers, however, are armed with a set of behaviors, not just a methodical approach, that allows them to avoid guessing. They consistently solve hard problems to root cause in a way that can seem magical to most people. In this book, Nat Greene—who’s been solving hard problems professionally for over twenty years—shares nine behaviors anyone can adopt to find solutions to even the most seemingly intractable problems.

The problem with most problem solving, Greene says, is that it’s not problem solving at all: it’s guessing. We have an idea of what might work and we try it out. If that doesn’t work, we try something else. And so on. It’s inefficient at best, and with really hard problems there are simply too many variables for guessing to work. Greene shows you how to adopt the behaviors great problem solvers use to arrive at solutions efficiently—without guessing. He illustrates them with examples ranging from everyday issues like fixing a malfunctioning garage door to stopping frequent breakdowns at a chemical plant (saving millions of dollars) to addressing the scourge of poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. So stop guessing and start solving today!

Intrigued? Visit the book site, add it to your Goodreads shelf, or buy a copy on Amazon.

What People Are Saying

“It’s a great book for both advanced and novice problem solvers – all you need is a curious mind and a desire to get dramatically better at solving the toughest problems around you, including those that many organizations have accepted to be unsolvable.”

— Pat Sullivan, 5-star Amazon review

“This book can teach you how to pick the right approach and solve hard problems. It’s not a big book. It doesn’t take a long time to get through it. Without a doubt though, if you apply the tools in this book you will become a better problem solver.”

— R. McConaughy, 5-star Amazon review

“Problem solving methodologies abound in the marketplace, but all of them will fail if not approached with the right behaviors. That is where this book focuses. It is an easy read with each of the 9 behaviors clearly defined and explained. The author does a great job of illustrating them with real examples that bring the behaviors to light.”

— Charles Milner, 5-star Amazon review

“Nat Greene shows us how we should approach problems differently. He offers numerous engaging real-life stories to illustrate how we can change our problem-solving mindset and provides tools that can be used by anyone for any problem. ‘Stop Guessing’ is an easy read that seamlessly flows from chapter to chapter and Nat builds on the principles that he shares.”

— Lisa Kosak, 5-star Amazon review

“Nat Greene has taken problem solving to a new level in his ‘Stop Guessing.’ Filled with lots of examples and anecdotes, I learned quite a bit while reading the book. . . . This is a good book that would be a nice addition to just about anyone’s library.”

— Rebecca Henderson, 5-star Amazon review

Learn More

Visit StopGuessingBook.com to learn more about great problem-solving, watch the book trailer, and read some of Nat’s recent guest articles. While there, you can also take this online quiz to learn your greatest problem-solving strengths. Or stop by Nat’s website to read his blog and learn about his latest projects.

Twitter Update: @Username Replies No Longer Count in 140-Characters

Twitter announced last week that “when you reply to someone or a group, those @usernames won’t count toward your Tweet’s 140 characters.” So for instance, if a client tweets a question at you, instead of your 140-character response including the number of characters in @weaveinfluence or @Forbes or @RealDonaldTrmp, etc., it looks like this:

In the above example, we tweeted at three users with handles of total of 32 characters. With the updated replies, those 32 characters no longer count against us.

If you’ll remember from years previous, the direct messages, photo and video URLs, GIFs, polls, and quoted tweets all counted toward the 140-character limit. In August 2015, Twitter lifted the limit on direct messages; and in September 2016, they stopped counting the characters in the rest.

This new update seems like a positive change, right? As with all changes to any social media interface, people love it . . . and they hate it. There’s been quite the backlash. However, the executives behind Twitter know that if they want to keep their heads above water, they have to keep coming up with new and better ways to be, well, new and better.

So what does this mean for us?

For starters, it makes Twitter conversations that are between more than two people a whole lot easier to respond to. With the characters in the @username no longer counting, you can theoretically @reply to a whole group of Twitter users and use all 140 characters for your thoughts, instead of wasting precious letters toward their lengthy handles.

But of course, with every upside there is also a downside. Being able to @reply to a group of people also makes it a lot easier to be spammed with notifications about conversations you have no interest being in.

Overall, we’re pretty enthused about this new update. Even the ability to have just slightly longer conversations with clients and followers on Twitter means we are able to go an extra step and pour into the people who count on us. For us, that’s a win.

Cheers to you, Twitter!

Featured on Friday: Servant Leadership Journal by @Art_Barter

Changing your behavior is hard — especially if you’ve been doing things a particular way for years or even decades. It requires reflecting on your current behaviors, understanding what needs to change, educating yourself and planning how to do things differently, and applying those plans on a daily basis. It’s a lengthy, challenging process, especially in our hectic, “always on” world — but there are tools to help!

For instance, consider those times in your day when your hands are busy, but your mind is left free to wander — such as during your commute, while you exercise, as you do housework, etc. Those are great times to reflect on your current behaviors and evaluate their effectiveness. Another great tool is journaling. Simply writing down your thoughts, emotions, challenges, and experiences can help focus your mind on what’s important or what needs to change. It’s even more effective when you journal about a particular aspect of life, such as your leadership journey.

Today’s featured author utilizes both of those tools in powerful ways. He began years ago using his commute to reflect on “behaving his talk” as a leader, focusing particularly on the principles of servant leadership, framing his mind to consider how to add value as a servant leader throughout that particular day. Eventually, he began focusing on nine behaviors key to growing as a servant leader, and created an 18-week journal focused on transforming personal leadership — a tool you can use to transform your leadership journey one day at a time.

Meet the Author — Art Barter

From compassionate leader to caring friend, Art Barter has also been committed to the principles of excellence related to the workplace. In 2004, his world changed dramatically. As vice president of finance within Datron World Communications, Art was given an opportunity to purchase the company. With little money and a big vision, a miracle happened through several circumstances that allowed Art and Lori Barter to become owners of a $10 million communications company.

Art will tell you the transformation took place because of his commitment to turn the organization from a traditional model of leadership to a servant leadership model. As chief executive officer, he also sees himself as cultural architect within Datron. The recent book, The Art of Servant Leadership, explains his story of success. Art is committed to sharing his Datron story with as many corporate leaders as possible, so that they too can move from “good, to great, to even greater impact” for the sake of others.

Art Barter holds two bachelor’s degrees in business and finance. Prior to joining Datron in 1999, he spent eight years working with the Disney Corporation and over 25 years in manufacturing companies.  In 2004, Art purchased Datron from The Titan Corporation and began serving in his current position as Datron’s CEO.

Want to connect with Art? Visit his website or find him on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook.

Discover the Book — The Servant Leadership Journal

Servant leadership is a form of leadership that turns the traditional organization chart upside down; the leader exists to serve the people he leads. In The Servant Leadership Journal, author and servant leadership implementer Art Barter teaches nine behaviors necessary to grow into a servant leader. Through the journaling process, these behaviors will change your mindset about leading in your personal life and your organization, thus changing your leadership behaviors and allowing you to reap rewards you never thought possible.

There are four distinct steps that are key to effective journaling: educate yourself on the meaning of each behavior; understand where you are with each behavior; be courageous to see the real you; and apply what you are learning to your life. What specific areas do you want to improve? Reflect by recording the results of your journey. Let’s change that old, worn out saying, “Walk the talk” to “Behave your talk.”™ Show others you are serious about becoming a different type of leader—one who can be trusted to act the same way you talk.

Intrigued? Visit the book page, add it to your Goodreads shelf, or buy a copy on Amazon.

What People Are Saying

“I loved how practical the steps in this book are. The author did a great job at at setting up everything that you need to start working toward being the type of leader that not only will your followers want to follow but that you will want to be!”

— Dad of Divas, 5-star Amazon review

“Writing about your experiences, feelings, challenges, and goals will help you understand the new actions you are choosing to take. . . . Throughout, you’ll find quotations from fellow servant leaders, to help support your journey. Living your life for others has been shown to result in happiness, resilience, friendship, success, and more.”

— R.McConaughy, 5-star Amazon review

“Recently read ‘Farmer Able’ and loved how Art succinctly wove the Servant Leadership principles through the book. As I’ve thumbed through this journal I’m excited to have another tool to help me SERVE my organization better!”

— Troy Slezak, 5-star Amazon review

“As an adjunct to the book ‘Farmer Able,’ Art Barter has published ‘The Servant Leadership Journal’ where . . . you will learn a better leadership philosophy, learn about yourself, and make changes to become a leader people want to follow.”

— Neal Woodson, 4-star Amazon review

Learn More

Visit ServantLeadershipInstitute.com to learn more about the book and find beautiful graphics and tweets to share with your coworkers and friends, or visit ArtBarterSpeaks.com to learn more about the author. Also, if you missed our recent webinar with Art, where he shared more about his philosophy of servant leadership, you can watch the replay here.