Steve Farber - Extreme Leadership

Steve Farber talks about the Extreme Leadership Intensive event coming up in Des Moines Iowa. Can't get to Des Moines, view this snap shot, buy his book. You'll get the essence of the program. Then you'll be able to decide to do the next intensive program when it comes around your neighborhood.




I have had the pleasure of meeting and talking with Steve at the SOBCon Conference the past two years. Someday, perhaps he'll bring the intensive event to New England and I'll get to attend.

I use his quote frequently. "Do what you love in the service of those who love what you do!"


Find out more about the event in Des Moines here

Chicago birdsongs - May 5th - (audio)

Recorded on the shores of Lake Michigan while on the morning run through Grant Park in Chicago.

listen to ‘Chicago birdsongs Sunday May 5’ on Audioboo

recording location

I was standing at the Buckingham Fountain when I stopped to record this morning.

The view around me - part 1 - Turning to the right of the fountain

Chicago skyline

part 2 - Turing back and then to the left of the fountain

Lake Michigan waterfront

part 3 - Turning directly to the east to face the rising sun would not have produced a picture worthy of sharing so I resumed running and found this line of trees worthy of stopping for

tree line

My favorite place is 'the bean' or officially called 'Cloud Gate'

Each time I come to SOBCon, I try to make a visit to cloud gate. It helps me focus and put things into perspective. We are so small in this big world.

What is SOBCon and why do I go? The answers can be found in this post that was a collaboration with my good friend Phil Gerbyshak   http://www.sobevent.com/what-makes-shersteve-come-back-to-sobcon-over-and-over/

Chicago morning bird songs (audio)

listen to ‘Chicago morning bird songs’ on Audioboo

Millennium Park, Chicago

#sobcon

SOBCon - here I come!

Yes, I will be back in Chicago for the SOBCon conference this May. My buddy Phil Gerbyshak posted an interview with me on why I return to SOBCon each year.

Millennium Park, Chicago

Why do I return?
You can read the details here

SOBCon Chicago 2013

Jane Boyd created this list using List.ly to showcase all the attendees for the upcoming SOBCon Conference in Chicago.

This is part of my personal learning network and a great annual event.

SOBCon Chicago 2013 Attendees

View more lists from Jane Boyd

Learning events on the horizon

What is Tech Day Camp?
Full day of workshops from experts in their field, especially geared towards the small business owner, non-profit organizations and YOU!!

Saturday March 23 at Tri-Country RVT in Franklin, MA

For registration and additional information visit http://techdaycamp.com/



PodCamp WesternMass

PodCamp is an un-conference about social media and online networking. It is an open and collaborative event with discussions and interaction from attendees. Anyone with something to contribute or with the desire to learn is welcome and invited to join. Some sessions will be planned ahead of the event, but plenty of spaces will be open for the topics YOU want to discuss and learn. Tickets are $30 ($15 for students), but all are expected to participate and/or present. You can participate by giving a presentation, demo, or joining into another cooperative event, being on a panel/roundtable, or in other ways helping out on event day.

Saturday, March 30 at Holyoke Community College

For registration and additional information visit http://pcwm5.eventbrite.com/
(Note I am helping to organize this event!)


SOBCon 2013

What is SOBCon?

SOBCon is a 2-day interactive business “think tank” that moves ideas to action. Attendees increase their business IQ in an engaging and positive learning environment, take away actionable and measurable business plans, and create a network of connections to drive their companies forward. Want to know more about this "inspiration incubator", and why YOU should attend our next event? 

For registration and additional information visit http://www.sobevent.com/
(Note - This is one event I will be at and one I would rather not miss again having missed the very first one.)

#SOBCon in Your Inbox: Chicago 2013 Revealed & Early Registration Ends today!

This is it! You can save $200 now on your SOBCon Chicago registration if you sign up by January 31st. As of February 1st, it will go to $895. So claim your seat today. Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Chicago 2013 Revealed It's crazy to think that what started out as just an idea has grown into not only an event, but a community. And we're so excited to celebrate that success that we've pulled together an amazing group of speakers that highlights just how far we've come after 10 events. This list isn't complete yet, but we wanted to give you a sneak pick of what to expect if you sign up today: Carol Roth, NY Times bestselling author and WGN radio host Sean Ogle, lifestyle entrepreneur & founder of Location 180 Chris Brogan, NY Times bestselling author and Human Business Works CEO Barbara Jones, BlissDom events co-founder and Blissful Media Group CEO Jeannie Walters, Chief Customer Experience Investigator™ & founder of 360Connext Ric Dragon, author of "Social Marketology" & DragonSearch CEO Dianna Rae, entrepreneur and Glam Media Co-Founder Alli Worthington, Blissfully Domestic Magazine founder Drew Marshall, Innovation consultant & principal of Primed Associates If you sign up today, you'll guarantee a seat in the room with these super-talented individuals and another 149 people who are committed to turning ideas into actions. During #SOBCon Chicago (May 3-5, 2013) you can expect to hear about: Building deeper, more valuable working relationships with your customers Adjusting your business metrics to enhance your understanding of the competition Fostering and sustaining influence through information sharing Learning how to engage with customers to deliver a richer, more meaningful experience Creating lasting connections from customers' first impressions Throughout the weekend, you'll learn the power of true collaboration. Whether it's discussing the models in depth with your mastermind team or connecting with someone new over lunch, you'll see that learning doesn't need to be lonely. We're confident that if you want to, you'll leave SOBCon with strategic action plans that will move you and your company forward. Add to that our famous opening night party and our Give Back Sunday and you have an event that deserves to be on your calendar. And with only days left to save on registration, you don't to miss out on the $200 savings if you sign up by January 31st (this Thursday). You know you want to be in the room. So what are you waiting for? Friend on Facebook Follow on Twitter Forward to a Friend Hotel 71 - The Place to Be Only 2 Blocks from the Summit Executive Center We're thrilled to announce that for the sixth year running Hotel 71 will be the host hotel for SOBCon Chicago 2013, May 3-5, 2013. There are a block of rooms available at the awesome rate of $179 (their current offered rate is $230) – all you have to do is: Call 1-877-999-3223 Say "I'd like the special SOBCon event rate please" (they may ask you the dates of the event – May 3-5) And book your reservation at the $179 rate Please make your reservations as soon as possible, because these weekends in Chicago are always packed with other events and conferences – and, the rooms at this excellent rate are limited. Save $200 - Ends 1/31 It's your last chance to get this ticket discount This Thursday is the last day you can claim your seat at SOBCon Chicago AND save $200. We know budgets are tight, so make sure you don't miss out on these savings. Sign up today.  follow on Twitter | friend on Facebook | forward to a friend  Copyright © 2013 SOBEvents LLC, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you were a previous SOBCon attendee, and/or opted in to the SOBCon Newsletter Our mailing address is: SOBEvents LLC 1110 NW Flanders St. Suite 200 Portland, OR 97209 Add us to your address book

the aha moment for Molly

What does the Women with Drive Foundation mentioned in yesterday's post do? Molly, the founder and the key woman with the drive to make this organization happen tells in her own words!




Find out more about Women with Drive on their webpage and follow their activities across whatever social media channel suits you best.

Go Molly!

"The Naked Truth of Social Media" - Phil Gerbyshak and friends

What has Phil Gerbyshak been up to lately? Phil has pulled together a fine group of folks to publish an ebook on social media.

You can get your copy of this ebook through this link
http://socialmedianakedtruth.com/



Related posts:

Phil is my birthday buddy
http://steves2cents.blogspot.com/2009/12/steve-sherlock-is-social-media-and-so.html

Taking the blog off the blog:
http://steves2cents.blogspot.com/2007/03/conversation-with-phil-gerbyshak.html

#sobcon

What's special about SOBCon?

The tools of the #SOBCon table are similar to those you might find at another conference event; laptop, liquid refreshments, candy, camera, and agenda document.



What makes SOBCon special is the folks sitting around the table in the mastermind sessions!

More notes, pictures and insights on SOBCon will be posted here as I collect my thoughts.

Smiling in Chicago

The morning walk to SOBCon 2012 included a diversion with a brief visit to Millennium Park and Cloud Gate or the "bean".



Next to Cloud Gate are two water towers with huge photos projecting on them (from within, I think). The photos change slowly. The face changes expression and I catch the smile.



What will get you to smile today?

SOBCon 2012 - Les McKeown

How to Find the Predictable Opportunities
Featured Faculty: Les McKeown, bestselling author of Predictable Success.

rate of information over the rate of pattern recognition creates a bubble of profundity
and a time of perplexity
6 blind men elephant story, we are all 400 billion of us trying to make sense of what is happening now

second voice, internal monologue, the inner dialog, usually negative, not helpful

polluting the ability to think straight, avoiding the ability to think period
break back through the 3rd voice to silence the 2nd voice

seven stages of business

1. early struggle
2. fun
3. white water
4. predictable success
5. treadmill
6. the big treadmill
7. death rattle

Charlie Gilkey
think not what new ideas I have but what do I need to understand these ideas

SOBCon 2012 - Rick Turoczy

Rick Turoczy, of Portland Incubator Experiment (PIE) and author of Silicon Florist.

position is good, positioning requires change
be brutally honest with where you are today

Liz introduces the mastermind work
putting the quantitative together with the qualitative produces the value proposition

Qualitative position

size and age of business, core competencies, market share, competitive threats, geography, property you own

using the Franklin Food Pantry as the example for me to work with
As the main player in town, what if the economy got so well, there was no need? not likely anytime soon 
How do we reach the folks that we should be reaching (if the #s are right)
How do we get full community awareness of the Pantry?


Qualitative position

mission, relationships, reputation, culture, values

connecting the resources to create a healthy life style
building relationships with local businesses
reputation has improved from a couple of years ago when the doors almost closed
culture where the client matters, create a food shopping experience
value the privacy of the clients

Quantitative strengths

what does your size, skill set, geography, allow you to bring to the table

Qualitative strengths

What is your worldview and how do you use what you bring to the table?

"The light at the end of the tunnel is not an illusion. The tunnel is." via@AmberCleveland here masterminding at #sobcon

SOBCon 2012 - Tim Storm

my notes from the interview with Tim Storm

Angel Djambazov interviews Tim Storm, founder of Fat Wallet
power of community, sense of community striking home

stupid little stickers, reinforced the stories on the core values
put on laptops, notebooks, etc. like the Buckeyes on the helmet

identified ‘fun’ as a core value later on


you hire for the core values because they are so hard to train!

SOBCon 2012 - Tim Sanders

My notes from Tim Sanders session at #SOBCon

quotes Nick Morgan, “the only reason to give a speech is to change the world”
find a mission that is worthy of success
elevate your purpose, it changes everything in your life


transparency and access,two things that the internet brings
your  higher purpose is either your secret sauce or the missing ingrediant


purpose is about being intentional
mission is what and for whom, vision is how we are going to get there


Net Minds, wants to make publishing fair
enthusiasm, quotes Dan Pink’s “Drive” real enthusiasm comes from a sense of meaning


must be a leader to drive engagement

story of the 3 workers on a scaffold
originates with Christopher Wren, architect

purpose will shield against criticism
maintains your focus

3 things to succeed

• have a higher purpose
• have passion for the purpose
• have focus for the purpose

put the purpose on the table to show the why behind the what

Southwest tickets to nowhere story

your purpose doesn't have to be original but must be organic

http://www.purposethebook.com/purpose_profiler/take_the_profiler/

“if you don’t know the asshole in your industry, you are the one”

how do you leverage all this?
hire for purpose
make purpose part of the process
leadership, think of measuring yourself differently
marketing, how do you share the story?

What catches your attention?

The sun was out in Chicago on Thursday afternoon. A woman with a skirt attracted some attention.

What holds your attention?

Do you recognize when your attention is wrapped around a topic?

Which Social Network Makes The Most Business Sense?

The article referenced here raises good points about what social media tool you should consider spending time integrating with your business. One aspect of the discussion they do not consider is location. Yes, remember the old adage: "location, location, location"?

You do need to consider where your customers are. If your customers are on Facebook, then use it. If you customers are on LinkedIn, use it. If your customers are not on Pinterest, then don't use it unless you can find a real good reason to do so.

A couple of years ago I said the same thing in a conversation with Mary-Lynn and George on the Bigg Success podcast. You can listen and read the post here
http://biggsuccess.com/2010/05/11/social-media-and-location-location-location/

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Which Social Network Makes The Most Business Sense?

via InformationWeek - All Stories And Blogs on 4/26/12

Facebook? Twitter? Google+? Pinterest? Here's how to ensure you dedicate resources to the right platforms for your business.

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to InformationWeek - All Stories And Blogs using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

SOBCon needs a song!

SOBCon is around the corner. Watching the hashtag, you can see that folks are talking up the event. All the good networking, learning, sharing, and of course singing that will occur over the weekend.

Now, I must disclose that I am not a singer. I have been told that I can't carry a note but there is a power to music that draws me in all the time.

But I do think that SOBCon needs a song!

Let's pick a song where the music is in the public domain. Where the tune is recognizable and rewrite the lyrics for SOBCon.

As samples of what I have been crazy enough to do, I offer up the following:

(To the tune of Neil Diamond's "Solitary Man")


“Twitterholic Man”

@linda was mine
‘Til the time
That I found her

Twitterholic
tweeting Jim
retweeting him

Then @Sue came along
DM’d with me
That’s what I sought
Me and @Sue
But that died too

Don’t know that I will
But until I can find me
The girl who’ll stay
And won’t twitter behind me
I’ll be what I am
Twitterholic man
Twitterholic man

2009 Sherlock’s Foolish Music, Inc. (MADCAP Records)

One of a series of Music for a Hot August Night

And yes, this example is not a good one as the music is not yet in the public domain. There are plenty of good songs that are in the public domain. There must be one we can re-work to be the SOBCon song!

Make it happen!

From Jonathan Fields, I got this intro to Danielle Laporte, followed a link here, a link there and ended up on her page watching this video



Yes, you can do it. Make it happen

Danielle Laporte's website

SOBCon 2012

SOBCon is more than a conference, for me, it is a key entry in my personal learning network. This is my prime event each year to connect with new folks, reconnect with folks from prior years, learn and share. "Taking the blog off the blog" as Phil Gerbyshak is fond of saying. "Where the virtual meets concrete" is the tagline for the event and appropriately so.

Will I see you in Chicago?

The SOBCon event schedule, speakers and registration info can be found here  http://www.sobevent.com/