Becky Robinson's Blog, page 62
November 17, 2015
Indiana Conference for Women (Recap)
It’s not often you get to spend a day with 1,000 women in the same room. It’s especially not often you get to spend a day with 1,000 driven, career-focused INSPIRING women in the same room! This was the case for me during last week’s 2015 Indiana Conference for Women.
I attended #ICW15 representing Weaving Influence as a Social Media Ambassador — sounds fancy, right? As a Social Media Ambassador, I was assigned to live tweet and promote conversation during keynotes and breakout sessions featuring iconic women in the industry. All while hash-tagging #ICW15.
The energy during #ICW15 was empowering and radiated a sense of camaraderie among attendees and speakers alike. Women across generations, at all stages in their careers, could be found sharing stories and dancing to the Beyoncé songs played over the loudspeakers. The girl power was exuberant.
The thought-provoking sessions were the highlight of the conference. Business leaders such as Kathy Ireland and Sallie Krawcheck shared stories of failure, success, and strategy that left the audience inspired. Authors and thought leaders taught valuable skills anywhere from mastering the “Politics of Promotion” with Bonnie Marcus, to Jennifer Kahnweiler’s enlightening advice on developing successful introvert/extrovert partnerships.
Everyone could take something away from the #ICW15, and I highly recommend attending next year’s event.
Here are a few of my favorite takeaways from the event! Click each quote to share on Twitter.
“Failure and success are not end points, they are the steps along the way.” @SallieKrawcheck #ICW15
“Allow people to refute you, but not dismiss you.” @kathyireland @inconfwomen #ICW15
“You’ve got to compete with a lot of men because we live in a world that was widely shaped by men.” @inconfwomen #ICW15
“Our failures and successes should not define us, they should not be our identities.” @kathyireland @inconfwomen #ICW15
“Our unique difference is our strength that we bring to the table. Embrace our difference!” @BethBrooke_EY @inconfwomen #ICW15
“There is no longer just one seat at the table for women.” @SallieKrawcheck @inconfwomen #ICW15
“Seek to be worth knowing, not to be well known.” @repucareCEO @debcstephens @inconfwomen #ICW15
“There is power in friendship and opposites connecting.” @JennKahnweiler @inconfwomen #ICW15
“Find people who will support you and realize you can build allies through the organization.” #PoliticsOfPromotion #ICW15 @selfpromote
“We are a team and NOT competition.” #GirlsRule #ICW15 @inconfwomen
Tell me something! Have you ever attended the Indiana Conference for Women?
November 13, 2015
Featured on Friday: @WilliamFHigh

Did you know that besides launching books and handling social media, we also create websites? This fall our talented web team had the privilege of working with Bill High on the design and creation of his new website. Once it was done, we felt like there needed to be some fanfare to let you know this was out there, so consider this a special “Fanfare” edition of Featured on Friday!
Bill has a great message and purpose: helping families craft a multi-generational vision for their families and assisting them in the development of plans for carrying out that vision.
On his new site, Bill shares that living a life of legacy is more than leaving behind financial assets:
It’s about leaving behind your stories.
It’s about leaving behind memories that last.
It’s about leaving behind a set of values that future generations will continue to follow.
That’s something that hits close to home for me as my parents celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary yesterday. The legacy that they have been building over the last 55 years is not something that will soon be forgotten by their 5 children or their 4 grandchildren. It’s far more than what they leave in a will – it’s about the stories that are shared over Sunday lunch, or the faith that they modeled for us throughout the course of their marriage.
If Bill’s mission sounds like something you want to know more about, then stop reading this post (it’s okay, I don’t mind!) and go visit him at:
williamhigh.com
Leave a note on his blog and let him know we sent you!
November 10, 2015
Nobody’s Got Time for Distraction: Putting the Pomodoro Technique to the Test
Do you sometimes look up at the clock and wonder where the time went? Do you get distracted by Facebook updates and email? Me too! I noticed my distractions increased in direct proportion to how interested I was in the task at hand. But let’s face it, not every task we perform is interesting or fun. I work from home, so I can find endless distractions if I’m not careful. I needed a system.
I tried hiding both email and Facebook, but I would just glance at my phone instead. I tried building breaks into my work calendar with reminders, so I could get up and move around. I just ignored those reminders. Then I read a blog post about the Pomodoro Technique. Basically, you set a timer for 25 minute increments. During those 25 minutes you ignore Facebook, email and every other distraction. You stay completely, 100% focused for that time. When the timer goes off, you get a 5 minute break. Then you sit down and do it again. What intrigued me about this approach was that it encouraged focused time and breaks. Really the opposite of how I normally work.
Here’s a typical work day for me: I sit down in front of my computer between 7 and 8 in the morning and dive in. I hit email and then work on other tasks. When a new email pings, I log over and check it out. I eat my meals in front of my computer. I rarely take a break or walk away until the work is done. No wonder my brain is fatigued and looking for distractions.
So, I decided to give Pomodoro a try. There are plenty of free timers on the web, or you can use your phone. This is the one I used. There’s also a book, an app and lots of blogs. The first day I had a schedule of client calls so I only had two Pomodoro sessions. I found myself unconsciously heading over to check my email and Facebook. It was almost an automatic reflex. I would be mid-read in an email and realize what I had done. The two sessions, even with my setbacks, felt focused and productive.
The next day was the real test. I had several reports I wanted to tackle. Often these will take me several days because while I love the strategic part of the reports, inputting the numbers and formatting the slides is the kind of tedious work that sends my mind wandering. I set out to do 5 Pomodoros and knock out at least 4 reports. If you’ve ever meditated and fought ‘monkey mind’ you’ll understand how this day worked for me. I would be targeted and on track and then, without even noticing, the monkey mind would be swinging through my Facebook feed. I would pull myself back, minimize the page, and do it again. I ended up doing 8 Pomodoro’s that day and finishing the first drafts of all my reports.
The most surprising thing was how much I looked forward to the breaks. I made myself get up and go into another room, do some jumping jacks, fix a snack, anything but think about the work I had been doing. Those breaks helped me come back fresh every time.
I don’t think the Pomodoro Technique is a miracle from the heavens, and there is no reason 25 minutes has any magic to it, but the system has worked for me. After a few days of struggling, it’s helped me keep my mind focused, keep the email beast at bay and it’s gotten me away from my desk throughout the day to refresh my mind and my spirit. I’m more productive and less burned out. Pomodoro for the win!
What do you do to stay productive?
November 6, 2015
Featured on Friday: Servant Leadership Summit #SLS2015

Leadership is hard. There may be days when all you want to do is crawl home and pull the covers over your head. Or maybe that’s just what you feel like when you’re an introvert! Either way, leadership requires hard work and perseverance, and it helps if you can learn from people who have “been there, done that” along the way.
If you start noticing the hashtag #SLS2015 on Twitter, you’ll want to take note because it’s talking about a very unique opportunity that is taking place next Monday (11/9), and you will be kicking yourself if you miss it. Let’s run through the list of speakers:
Ken Blanchard – one of the most influential leadership experts in the world
Mark Miller – serves as the Vice President of Training and Development at Chick-fil-A
Cheryl Bachelder – the CEO of Popeyes® Louisiana Kitchen Inc.
Ken Jennings – bestselling author, speaker and active consultant in organizational leadership
Dr. John Stahl-Wert – highly sought-after keynote speaker, an expert in growing great leaders
Pat Falotico – CEO of the Robert K Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership
Matt Tenney – social entrepreneur, author, international keynote speaker, trainer, and consultant
Impressed? You should read their short bios, and then their long bios! It seems like they get more done in an hour than I often get done in a week, and better still – they do it by using their leadership roles to serve others. In fact, this idea of servant leadership is so important to them, they are each giving up a portion of their work day on Monday to share their insights and wisdom with you – FOR FREE!
That’s right, the Servant Leadership Summit is completely FREE to attend – and with almost 700 people registered already, you’ll want to grab a virtual seat while they’re still open!
Joining this talented panel are your hosts – and fellow leaders – Karin Hurt and Becky Robinson. Karin is a keynote speaker, leadership consultant, and MBA professor whose award-winning blog, Let’s Grow Leaders, has grown into a highly interactive, international community. I’m sure you know Becky, the founder and CEO of Weaving Influence, who has grown her company from a team of 5 contractors to over 30, including 7 employees who support her work with authors and thought-leaders.
So – what are you doing on Monday from 11:30 – 2:30 (ET)? I hope you’re signed up to join us for 3 hours of leadership development and growth! Can’t stay for all of it? Sign up anyway and join us for 30 minutes at lunch, or an hour in the afternoon – I guarantee you’ll leave with something to think about and put into practice.
Spread the Word – Send this Tweet Now!
Join me at the FREE 3 hour Servant Leadership Summit #SLS2015 hosted by @beckyrbnsn & @LetsGrowLeaders on 11/9 http://bit.ly/SLS_Nov9
{Tweet Now!}
October 30, 2015
Featured on Friday: #NewSocialLearning by @marciamarcia & @tonybingham

I’ve been on Facebook since July of 2007. In 2011 I joined the ranks of Goodreads and Pinterest, and in January of 2012, I reluctantly got a Twitter account. The irony of my slow acceptance of social media is that I’ve now been gainfully employed in the social world for the last three and a half years, thanks to Becky Robinson.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned – both from my personal use of it, as well as professionally – it’s that social is always changing. Just when you think you have it figured out, they change the system – or add a completely new platform!
Over the last three and a half years, I’ve watched with interest the growth of social media in the corporate world. When companies merge, it’s no longer just a question of, “how do we split up the stocks and board members?” but, “how do we merge our social channels and keep our followers?”
Social media has found its way into the board rooms. Our resumes are now our LinkedIn profiles. Entrepreneurs who are busy growing a new venture must also juggle social media if they want to find an audience. If any of this sounds familiar, then I think you’ll enjoy getting to know today’s featured authors.
Meet Tony Bingham and Marcia Conner
Tony Bingham is the president and CEO of the Association for Talent Development, formerly ASTD, the world’s largest professional association dedicated to those who develop talent in organizations. He empowers professionals to develop talent in the workplace.
Tony believes in creating a culture of engaged, high-performing teams that deliver extraordinary results. Deeply passionate about change, technology, and the impact of talent development, his focus is on adding value to ATD members and the global community of talent development professionals.
He believes that aligning talent development efforts to business strategy, while utilizing the power of social and mobile technology for learning, is a key differentiator in business today.
Marcia Conner is a former corporate executive who now dedicates her time to reinventing a vibrant and healthy global ecosystem. Described as a “blank page systems architect,” she works closely with risk-taking leaders, impact entrepreneurs, and unreasonable thinkers, ready to use their powers for good.
Marcia is a SupporTED Mentor, contributes to Fast Company and Wired, is an activist with Change Agents Worldwide, and a fellow at the Darden School of Business. She is advisor to the Way to Wellville and MMINDD Labs.
She is also the author of Learn More Now, a co-author of Creating a Learning Culture, and a contributor to Changing The World Of Work. Marcia speaks across the globe on outcompeting current structures through system innovation and ingenuity.
Connect with Tony & Marcia on Social
As the president and CEO of ATD, Tony would love to connect with you on the ATD Facebook page, or you can follow him on Twitter, LinkedIn, or Google+.
Marcia can be found on Facebook, tweeting away on Twitter, as well as LinkedIn and Google+.
Discover The New Social Learning
The best spot to go to learn more about this helpful book is their book website: thenewsociallearning.com. There you can find a free sample chapter to download, more information about the book (like where to order), and beautiful share graphics and tweets to send out. You can also download engaging content and tools from The New Social Learning. Don’t miss stopping by and checking it all out this weekend!
As it’s Buzz Week for the book, I would be remiss if I didn’t point you to one of these three guest posts, hosted by:
Jane Anderson @ InsiteSkill
Chantal Bechervaise @ Take It Personnel-ly
And Innovation Excellence
If you’ve read the book, this weekend would also be an excellent time to stop by Amazon and join Lisa, Paul, Christopher, Andy, and Rebecca by leaving your review. Short, sweet, and to the point, or long and detailed – book reviews are one of the best (and easiest) ways to show your support for an author and their work, so head on over to Amazon today!
Want to do more?
Send this tweet now and show your social support!
Community is created by connecting & creating a better world together. #NewSocialLearning @marciamarcia @tonybingham http://bit.ly/buyTNSL {Tweet Now!}
October 27, 2015
The Power of Asking for Help
One of the hardest parts about starting a new job is the sheer amount of information that needs to be learned. You ask questions – and a lot of them – just to wrap your head around all the procedures, expected behavior, chains of command, and contingency plans. Thankfully, a few weeks into the job, that volume starts subsiding.
Unfortunately, so do the questions.
After a few months on the job, we feel embarrassed to stumble across something we don’t know. We try to juggle the facts as best we can to figure things out on our own. And to some extent, we need that challenge in order to grow and succeed at our jobs.
But we also need to learn that it’s okay to ask questions! Here are 5 reasons why:
1. If you’re wondering about something, someone else has probably wondered it too. There is very rarely any truly “unique” question! Speaking up could help out others who need the answer just as much as you do — and it also lets the person you ask know that something needs to be clarified or explained better.
2. Asking for advice gives someone else a chance to offer help. It tells someone that their advice or experience is needed and valued – which, in turn, boosts their confidence and strengthens their courage. It builds trust with others by letting them know you value their insight.
3. You get less egg on your face when you stop to ask for help. When you charge ahead with something – knowing you aren’t sure what’s expected or how to accomplish it, but failing to ask for help – you not only lose an opportunity to grow in your job, but also usually make more work for yourself! There is a fine line between asking for help and being helpless, but that’s defined more by your mindset than by how many questions you ask… and you can tell the difference by what you’re asking.
4. Teams and organizations are more effective when individuals communicate about problems, concerns, and uncertainties. Not asking for help when you need it could hurt your team as a whole, if it results in inferior work, which then results in decreased sales or poor customer relationships. Mark Twain said, “It is wiser to find out than to suppose.” It’s always better to know something for certain – even if it requires asking a “rookie” question – than to make an incorrect assumption.
5. Asking questions make you a more effective leader. Admitting that you don’t know everything is a sign of wisdom and humility – both hallmarks of great leadership. Asking for someone’s help takes courage but it displays authenticity and a willingness to learn – both of which make you more approachable to others.
As Nobel Prize Winner Naguib Mahfouz wrote: “You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions.” Yes, you should be thoughtful in how you ask – but it is almost never wrong to ask something if you aren’t sure of the answer.
No man is an island. No matter who you are, no matter how successful you become, you will always need the ideas and experience of others.
Remember, it’s okay to not know everything. It just makes you human!
Tell me something! Do you find it easy or hard to ask questions in your job? Why?
October 23, 2015
Featured on Friday: @bobtiede Great Leaders Ask Questions

I’ve got a question for you – what was the last great leadership quote you heard? How did it impact your life or work? Would you like to share it in the comments?
Bob Tiede is known for asking questions, drawing people out, and helping to spread great leadership wisdom in the world on his blog, Leading With Questions. And now he’s doing even more!
This week we’re celebrating the launch of his FREE ebook, Great Leaders Ask Questions: A Fortune 100 List. This list was compiled by Bob, and highlights more than 100 questions to ask yourself, your team, your boss, your friends and family to help you connect with others more deeply and profoundly.
Looking for some thought-provoking reading for the weekend? Bob’s got you covered!
Click the image below to get started.
Connect with Bob Online
If you like what you read in Bob’s ebook, he regularly curates and shares wisdom from the world’s leaders on his blog and social media channels. Looking for someone who does more other-promotion than self-promotion? Bob’s your man! Check out his blog and follow him on social today.
Tell Your Twitter Friends! TWEET NOW!
Send this Tweet Now and help us spread Bob’s free gift!
Awesome FREE #leadershipquote ebook from @BobTiede – download yours today! http://bit.ly/FREEQLAQ {Tweet Now}
October 21, 2015
Q and A with Julie Winkle Giulioni (@Julie_WG): Building Influence Online
Three years ago, my team and I partnered with Julie Winkle Giulioni to launch her first book, Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go. Since that time, I’ve continued to admire the way Julie shows up online. I asked Julie to take some time to talk about what has worked well for her in building online influence in hopes that her learning will be of help to our readers. She has experienced tremendous results and benefits from her online influence, starting with continued book sales over time. I always love talking with Julie and I’m sure her insights here will inspire you. Thanks, Julile!
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned about growing online influence?
Start way earlier than when you think you need to. I didn’t get what it was going to take to ramp up. Everything takes longer than you think it is going to. You really have to give it time, especially if you want your online presence to be authentic. The time factor is huge.
What activities do you see that are most valuable for you?
The value of regular blogging is very important. Also, the way one blog can be used in so many ways to create nodes of connectivity. It still stuns me how it works to slice up one blog post in a systematic, disciplined approach to online sharing.
Connecting to other bloggers has also been very valuable, being able to use the book launch as a springboard to other relationships that have extended into more real life.
What advice would you give to someone who is just beginning to grow influence online?
As you look at opportunities, consider yes to be the default. Find ways to say yes… even if it’s scary. I was struck by how whenever I say yes to something, it spawns so many other things. I said yes to writing a paid blog, which led to conferences, which led to a webinar, which led to some lucrative business in my own region. It’s easy to shy away from things, thinking you’re not ready or it won’t be perfect. Say yes and figure it out.
Do what it takes to get past the self-conscious phase of worrying what people will think of you. In the beginning, I felt uneasy wondering if people would judge me for what I blogged or tweeted. In the beginning, I had to remember that no one was reading it any way. It was my mantra.
Get creative and find new ways to spin a topic to effectively repurpose the work you’ve done. For example, I’ve repurposed blog posts to short audio segments on Audvisor. You have to leverage the work in a variety of ways so you have bandwidth to keep going.
And, take a day off from your social media activities every week. There is always more to do so preserve your sanity and ensure that your efforts will be sustainable.
What opportunities have you gained that you would not have had without being online?
Conferences, webinars, clients, and book sales. Sustained effort in my online presence has maintained a respectable sales rank over three years.
What relationships have you been able to cultivate that you would not have without being online?
I met other bloggers with whom I have developed real friendships, mentoring relationship, including Jennifer Miller.
Additionally, I’ve been able to work with incredible organizations as a result of my online presence and my work with you.
What challenges have you experienced in growing your online presence?
Feeling self-conscious.
Trying to balance brand building and coherent message and staying engaged and interested. If something strikes me in the moment, I want to be able to write based on inspiration but I need to balance that with staying in my content area. Staying consistent in my activity has been difficult – as new opportunities come up, I struggle to find the time to keep my regular social media posting going.
Mining my previous content for ideas to take in a different directions has been helpful.
What surprises have you experienced in growing your online presence?
A major surprise has been the authentic, genuine relationships I’ve been able to form, virtually. I have friends, people I genuinely care about and look forward to connecting with.
What started out as a book marketing tool has turned into something that has provided tremendous personal enjoyment/fulfillment as well.
What one factor do you see as most critical to your burgeoning success as a thought leader?
Having the good sense to recognize the value of partnering with a team like the team at Weaving Influence.
Tell me something! Which of Julie’s advice is most helpful to you? What else would you add about the benefits of building online influence?
October 16, 2015
Featured on Friday: @shelleyrow

Do you ever over-think things? I sure do. I’ve often blamed it on my personality type (INTJ), or the fact that I play devil’s advocate a lot (something my sweet husband reminded me of just last night), but if you don’t examine every side of an issue or plan, how will you know what you could be missing, right?
But there’s another side to this over-thinking habit – getting stuck because you are too afraid to move forward. If I’m so concerned that I haven’t thought of every possibility, then I will never be able to step out and take a risk. Although details and facts are certainly important, there are times in life when over-thinking will kill the opportunity before you. Over-thinking has been my downfall more than once, and although not every risk will turn out well, you never know until you try.
The woman we’re featuring today identifies herself as “a recovering over-thinker” – a label I can definitely identify with.
Meet Shelley Row
Shelley is a registered professional engineer who holds an MBA degree, and is the creator of the Infotuition™ Cognition-Intuition Balance Model. For chronic over-thinkers, Shelley offers Infotuition™ insights based on personal interviews with over 70 leaders, backed up by scientific research and aimed at helping over-thinkers, like me, become better decision-makers.
About herself, Shelley says:
I have been an over-thinker all my life… and, I might add, an accomplished one. My dad, an air force pilot, taught me the value of thinking. That skill came in handy as I obtained degrees in civil engineering, architecture and an MBA.
I started as a transportation engineer in 1984 when women engineers were few. While working in several states including Georgia (for the 1996 Olympics), I learned to excel in a man’s world. But, I could tell the executives had something I didn’t. What was it? Finally, I realized it was the power of feelings – the nudge of intuition. It dawned on me…. You can’t think your way to the top.
Leaders used both intellect and intuition. They think, feel, and then, act. When I learned to do the same, I transformed:
From a woman engineer to a woman executive,
From a goal setter to goal achiever, and
From having a dream to living my dream.
Anyone can do it. Really. Anyone. That means you!
Connect with Shelley Online
Find Shelley on: Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Learn more about Infotuition™ by visiting her website.
Learn More from Shelley
Interested in getting out of the habit of over-thinking? Shelley has a lot of options to help you, including:
Her book, Think Less, Live More – available on Amazon (and find out more HERE)
Sign up for Shelley’s newsletter (sign up info found HERE)
Bookmark her blog for regular reading
She offers coaching and consulting services – contact her to learn more
Sign up through our Buzz Building form for the opportunity to host a guest post from Shelley on your blog
You Tell Me! Do you over-think everything, or jump in quickly?
October 13, 2015
Do’s and Don’ts of Your Job Search
Let’s face it. Being an adult can be overwhelming. Especially after going to school for more than 15 years. What can you do to prepare for that readjustment post-college? How can you make it as stress free as possible? What can you do to secure a job after you finally earn that degree that cost you $50,000?
Ask yourself these important questions
Before you get started with networking and online research, you really need to take the time to ask yourself these questions: What kind of job do I want? What kind of company do I want to work for whether it’s a fortune-500, non-profit, or an agency? Am I good fit for this company’s culture? What are the most important factors I’m looking for in this job search? Knowing the answer to these questions will help you filter out jobs. The key is to focus on the jobs that are meaningful to you, and give them a stellar application instead of tossing out your resume to every application you see.
Commit to daily research
Using resources like LinkedIn and Indeed are a good way to start your search. But sometimes you have to dig a little deeper. I would sift through connections on LinkedIn to see what kind of job titles people had and what companies they worked for. That’s an excellent way to find out who is hiring. Also use search engines that are geared towards a specific industry or geographical location. I used OhioMeansJobs.com and EntertainmentCareers.Net for additional help.
Budget your money
My biggest mistake was that I never kept track of how much money I was earning vs. how much I was spending. I was like most college students that wanted to enjoy senior year by having a social life every weekend, going on trips here and there, and going out to eat every other day. I highly recommend to start saving half your paychecks, tackle student loans as soon as possible, and live within your means. That last thing you’re going to want to stress about is money in between jobs.
Don’t send the same resume over and over
Every resume should be unique. You should highlight the skills you have that match the requirements for the job you’re applying for. For every social media job I applied for, I made sure the first bullet point under each title included social media work that I accomplished. That’s going to be the first thing that the employer reads when skimming through your resume so make the wording catchy and specific.
Don’t make salary your top priority
Personal happiness should always be more important than salary. The more money you make equals more stress on the job. You’re probably going to have a lot of responsibilities that can greatly affect the success of the company. Ask yourself if you can handle that kind of pressure in your first position. Ask yourself when looking at the job description if you’re passionate about the job responsibilities and what the company stands for. If you have any doubts, you should probably say no, and move onto the next opportunity. Just remember that in many industries, you’re going to start at the bottom of the ladder, and your salary will reflect that. You’ll make that higher salary once you prove your worth.
Don’t panic
Yes, this is the hardest emotion to avoid when dealing with the unknown. It felt worse for me when people I know found jobs before they even graduated. But everyone’s career path is going to be unique, and you should never, ever compare yourself to other people. There IS a company out there with a culture that fits your personality, and career goals. Just be patient. I promise it’s out there.
Image Credit: Pixsooz