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April 2024
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MY KIND OF COMMUNITY3/20/2023 I have never been so committed to getting this right. A community that I have been looking for for the past five years. As you know my consulting practice has taken me in various directions, metaphorically and physically. Hence, the product of all these tours, detours, reiterations, and close-calls are now lovingly produced into this community, The Provocateurs' Nexus. As I was talking to representatives of my target demographic, I noticed three qualifications which I think deserve its own explanation. They want EASY, NO RISK GUARANTEES! We are bombarded with so much gizmos, gadgets, apps, and everything that involve making our lives easier. We are given promos that are time-sensitive to get us into action. We don't want any sleazy marketing. We want personalized, high touch attention. I hear you! Let the buyer buy without any hassle. They want NO GUILT, LAID-BACK PARTICIPATION. I'm all for it. There is no sense of building a program for those who are overworked, underpaid, overly-stressed, and underpowered in their current roles who will not have any time or energy to devote to anything else. I can't emphasize this need very well. There's a space for lurkers, browsers, and introverts too. I will not be taking away time as opposed to be building personal efficacy over time. They want NO UNSOLICITED ADVICE. Aside from effective facilitation and expert moderation in this instance, key is the adherence to values and principles laid out from the beginning. In any group dynamics, there could be misunderstanding which can lead to conflict or hurt feelings. The need to be respectful and supportive can be shown not just in giving or receiving advice. Giving advice when not welcome at all is just being insensitive. For this community, I'm leaning towards disclosing based on one's comfort level and encouraging conversations at a more general level and not particularly pointed to one or more individuals in the group. More of a teaching moment for everyone. If you want to know more, head to my page where I talked about the benefits, terms and conditions, no risks guarantees, stories, and more.
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The explosion in publishing has been noted to be the one of the most significant breakthroughs in recent years. Nearly practically anyone can self-publish his work and sell it online to his communities. The marketplace is very saturated with new books and materials entering every year, bumping the previous ones in terms of competition for the consumers.
To get an edge over this saturation, service-providers and purpose-aligned organization must provide more than their annual reports and publications, it's the experience with you that counts. Experiencing your capabilities, wealth of experience, and analysis is the way forward to break out from the commodification in the sector. Purpose-driven organizations that are struggling to get the attention of your constituencies and stakeholders, here are the top four strategies to publish successfully and earn their donations, loyalty, and support. 1. Publish in areas where your target stakeholders learn, mingle, and network. That will keep your brand front-and-centre. 2. Repurpose your analysis and studies in variety of creative ways. The latest stats on digital consumption reveals an uptake on audio and video content. Make it accessible anytime, anywhere. 3. Design an experience that they will never forget. Unforgettable, relevant, and peer-to-peer exclusive atmosphere will increase your credibility in the field. You become the go-to for anything authoritative in your domain. 4. Build your defenders for the long game. In my book Provocateurs, I discussed the evolution of community, from fans to acolytes to defenders. Defenders will not only support your work, but will sponsor, evangelize, and take action for your benefit that aligns with their interests and values as well. Adapt your events, publications, and communications to build up your community.
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SILENCE1/5/2023 When I last saw my 11-year old niece in 2019, she was singing the 1960s hit, the Sound Silence. That was one of the best folk songs in my book. I remembered in the 90s, when I got to know some of the best classical folk and rock songs and started to learn the guitar for the first time. The Sound of Silence was one of the beats that was unbeatable. I gave up on the guitar after trying for a few months recovering from blisters all over my fingers, but not on the song. The Sound of Silence is eternally relevant and powerful with its hunting melodic harmony that remains supreme against the auto-tone, music trashing modern bands we have today. I can say that I grew up learning to play these songs, interpret these songs during my high school life, and appreciate a different era of my parents and grandparents where some of these songs have been birthed. Silence in today's world is a rarified survival tool. Everyone wants it but it takes courage to find and keep a silent life. If you think about it, silence is a blessing. As I grow in years, I would lean more to the quiet, calm, and assured days and moments as opposed to the big, boisterous, and larger-than-life events that take our breath away from time to time. The sound of silence is the heart beating, bird chirping at outside, snow falling from the sky, staring at a newborn baby (which I did today!), snoring sound in another room, electric fan swirling, moments that no words can be enough. I'd rather be drowned in silence than to fill up the space with meaningless chatter and fake words. There is power in silence and using this power responsibly and positively honors the One that gives us the power to listen. We can hear more when we listen on non-verbal cues that are rich, textured, and layered of meanings. I am coaching one professional and I told her that there is no problem with silence. Don't avoid it like a plaque but understand the meaning of silence in every encounter or situation with the people in the room. Being a leader means being aware of the underlying context that most of the time, is hidden from verbal expression. Emotions make us human, respecting the positive benefits of silence is truly a gift. Take notice, be interested, and listen discerningly. People talking without speaking People hearing without listening People writing songs that voices never heard No one dared, disturb the sound of silence... |