Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Live Blogging Triangle AMA Digital Marketing Training Camp: Converting Existing Visitors To Customers

Gregory Ng
Speaker: Gregory Ng

Agenda

  1. Unicorns
  2. 3 First Steps to Start Testing
  3. 10 Things you can do this year

Bonus: Book Givaways

E-commerce websites report an average conversion rate of 2.2%. Anything you want your customer to do on your website is considered a conversion.

The issue is that nobody ever things about the other 97.8%.

Companies on average spend more money on traffice acquisition than optimization (88:1). This is the wrong ratio.

If we had a budget of 100,000 the majority of that would be used on advertising and the remaining percentage was used on thinking about the business. This is so wrong.

A Case for Optimization
As companies, we spend more money on getting more people into the funnel instead of taking care of those already in the funnel.

C = M+rV+rO/F+A=>1

Conversion, Motivation, Relevance of value Prop, Revl of Offer, Friction, and Anxiety

Relevance = The right message to the right customer at the right time.

3 First Steps

  1. Believe in Data (this includes everyone in the company...hunches never trumps real data)
  2. You must Learn (Have/build the culture and always learning about your customer)
  3. Stay on Target (Know the keys for success and stay on that path. Know the metrics.)
10 Ideas To Use in 2012
  1. Don't treat everyone like it's their first visit (what you look for the second visit isn't the same as if it were you're first time)
  2. Create ways for visitors to self-select (track usage and optimize)
  3. Use geo-targeting to deliver relevant messages
  4. Speak their language (use the data to determine what's going on)
  5. Use online behavior to trigger marketing messages (should be built into CRM strategy)
  6. Use the weather (use weather widgets to offer specific items)
  7. Use dayparting in your Paid Search (if not, you should be. Hire data analysts!)
  8. Don't assume what works for others works for you (start with assumptions, but use data to prove it)
  9. Consider the device...and your data 
  10. Use "relevant messaging" to meet goals
5 T's Of Testing
  1. Team (that's committed to testing)
  2. Trust (in the data and in the tests)
  3. Technology (have the right technology)
  4. Traffic (you have to have the volume to test)
  5. Time (give time to test)

Live Blogging Triangle AMA Digital Marketing Training Camp 2012: Search Engine and Landing Page Optimization

Speaker: Jenny Halasz

Jenny Halasz
The question is how do we get in front of the search engines? Jenny says that's not as important and we'll talk about that today.

What is SEO?
Mrs. Halasz starts with a story. She talks about going into the doctor's office. Knowing that she would be at bed rest after the procedure, she stopped by Blockbuster. They were closed.

Her sister told her about Redbox, which she never used before. While waiting at the doctors office, she jumped online via the mobile device. Step-by-step, she goes from visiting the web site to downloading the mobile app. Once she finished that step, she walked through renting a movie from the app to picking it up at the kiosk.

Must Haves of SEO

  • Must be seen
  • Must be relevant
  • Must motivate a click
By using the Triangle AMA web site as a reference, Jenny points out things that could be done better. The first thing is starting with meta description. This will allow you to control what shows up in the Google search result.

Keyword Research
While logged into Google, you can personalize search results. If you're doing business under the old model, then you're doing it wrong.

Fundamentals of Usability
Jacob Neilson is the "father of usability testing." What we've learned is that we read web pages from top to bottom, left to right.

Looking at Walmart's web site. They have a top bar and left navigation bar. This is done right.

Keep It Short And Sweet
We don't consume web sites in the same way we consume books. The average user only reads 8 words before they decide to read. Tip: Get to the point quickly!

Make Your Page Load Quickly
When you look at how fast your page loads, this can determine how your page ranks in search engines.

Conflicting Information (Friction)
Similar to road signs that say merge left, but instruct user to turn right. Our web pages should provide instructions on where you want people to go. Tip: Tell the customer where you need them to go.

Persona
Use to identify what your customer needs. This allows you to understand your customers.

Motivation and Value Proposition
Using FreeCreditReport.com as an example, they provide a reason for you to order the report and they then  provide the value. "Look, you can protect yourself for only $2.99"

Motivation - What problem are you trying to solve? What are we at risk of losing if we don't buy this product.

Value Proposition - What will it take to solve that problem? How much?

Call to Action
It's important to have a call to action.

Remember - "User-Centered Design is ROI"

R = Reduce friction and unsupervised thought
O = Obvious motivation
I = Interact with clear call to action

Closing Thought
Take a look at your current web site. What is it that you want your customer to do? The truth is 90% instinct.

Live Blogging Trianagle AMA Digital Marketing Training Camp 2012: Deliver Amazing Customer Service With Social Media


Speaker: Peter Shankman

Peter starts by talking about his story. He studied fashion and photography in Santa Barbra, California. What he learned early on was that humor is important. Therefore, feel free to share on Twitter or Facebook anything he says. He's ok with that. His Twitter handle is @petershankman.

One of his first jobs was working for AOL.com. He was an editor back in 2005 for News Today, but he had no clue as to what he was doing. After a couple of years at AOL, he went back to New York.

In the summer of 1998, he lived in New York City with no money. He talks about how he started his business. Using his rent money, bought  and sold 500 t-shirts to people that hated the movie The Titanic. The t-shirt read, "It Sunk. Get Over It!" He ended up making a profitable return on that investment.

In response to the popularity of the t-shirt, he sold over 10,000 items at $15. He ended up making over $100,000, which he used to build his marketing firm. The sheer number of sales put a strain on his web servers. In addition, he was later called to talk with a national radio host.

Lesson: You have to own what you do and make sure you brand the heck out of it. If you don't someone else will take the idea.

Everyone tells you to have a backup plan when you fail. Instead, Peter says that you should have a backup plan for when you succeed. He shares a story about how he created a video (shown below) that got really popular online. Unfortunately, he never branded the video. As a result, he could have furthered his companies brand.

If you cannot see the video, click here.

Another lesson is that nobody cares how awesome you are if YOU are the one telling them. However, if you let someone else say that your awesome, then it carries much more weight.
"I'm So Adjective, I Verb Nouns!!!"
In 2005, Peter created a website that allows people to choose their airline partners. The service is called Airtroductions. Not long after he built it, he talks about a producer of a reality television show that wanted to use his services to hook up people on the show. He agreed.

After the show aired, he earned 50,000 new members. So, what started as a business networking site quickly changed into a dating site. As a result, he changed the logos and branding to better align with customers.

"You are not in control of your company. Not your board of directors. The ones that control your company is the customer." Peter Shankman. Amazon learned this lesson and so should you.

Helpreporter.com is another website that held a mailing list for PR people. Similar to previous stories, the web site took off and it made considerable amount of money. It was later acquired in 2010. It's still a free web site.

Transparency
Peter changes topics and talks about Senator Obama during his race for the White House. The point is being transparent. During a number of talk show interviews, he owned the conversation because of his transparency. It's not a question of if you'll screw up, but when. However, if you own it and get in front of it, you will be loved.

An example of this is Weiner. Instead of waiting three weeks denying, he should have admitted to it and moved on.

Sometimes, when you're trying to be transparent, you have to go outside of your comfort zone. Peter talks about a guy that took a nude picture of himself to sell a product. He created a large ad that amassed huge amounts of attention.

Relevance 
How many of you get your news from newspapers, tv, Twitter, Facebook, blogs, or podcasts? We are in a world that is media fractured. The average age Nightly News today is "Dead." In the 50's, the average age was in the 30's.

The problem is this, how do we reach our audience when they're fractured? Ask them. The more you know about them, the better you can serve them. Know how to market to your audience.

In the mid-west, Peter worked for a nonprofit. One of the organizers sent him a coffee table book? He says that he doesn't even own a coffee table. So he calls the organization and says why did you send me a book instead of an online version? According to research...blah, blah, blah.

They took a year to ask every customer about what they wanted. They found that by offering an online solution, they increased their donations even in a down economy.

Brevity
MTV brought entertainment in the 1980's via music videos down to 3 minute increments. Peter would give his right arm to talk with an audience with a 3 minute attention span. Today, our attention span is only 2.6 seconds. The length of attention in a written form is 140 characters, this is the length of a text message.

If Twitter is not careful, they can become the next Pets.com. They have to make money.
"Embrace the concept, not the brand"
Text messaging became popular because September 1911 and American Idol. Even Peter's parents have adopted the text message, but they haven't grasped the concept of Twitter. Just because we think it is a good idea, doesn't mean it is. We live in a bubble.

How do you reach an audience when they're attention span is so short? The answer is "Learn to Write." Bad writing is destroying our country. It's not our attention span, but our writing skills.
"Good writing is brevity. Brevity is social media." 
Be Top Of Mind
He talks about an executive that goes through his Roladex and says, "Hi!" In 3 months, he had gone through his entire list of friends. Four times a year, he talks with everyone in his list.

How many of you say "Happy Birthday?" We are doing a horrible job of managing our social network. Reach out to people on your network that you haven't spoken too in 6 months. If you cannot reach out to them at least every 4 months, then you need to disconnect with them because it will destroy your network. Reach out to your people when you don't want anything.

Peter believes that Facebook will win out over Google+. Last year, he earned a great deal of new customers because of his friend's friend.

When he first meets someone, he gets their phone number and puts it in their phone. Touch point 2 and 3 is when Peter text's the new contact and asks them to go out to get a drink. Touch point 4 and 5 is when Facebook realizes you have met in person. Touch point 6 and 7 is when you say thank you for hanging out. Touch point 8 and 9 is when they begin to hang out more. Touch point 10 and 11 is when Peter and this new contact start dating.

He says all this to say that Facebook recognizes the number of touch points people have with one another.  While we may still be friends online, the Network notices the changes in relationships. It all comes back to customer service. Your relationship with someone affects your relationship with their connections. It's all connected.

The concept of customer service is doing the things that nobody notices. It's called social media but Peter wants us to call it social udia. That means it is not about YOU but them. Take out the letter "I" from your updates.

If you are not shaking things up (having haters) than you are not doing enough to change the status quo.

Final Thoughts
Have fun and live in the moment. Use basic common sense. Most of us expected to be mistreated. If you treat your customers one level better than crap and people will remember you. Treat your customers well and they will do your PR for you. That is the new PR. It is getting others to tell everyone how great YOU are. That is social media.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Yeshua - A Study of Matthew's Gospel: Tithing



This week, Pastor Matt Fry continues his series on Yeshua: The Study of Matthew's Gospel at C3 Church in Clayton, NC.

Foundational Scripture: [Matthew 6:19-24]
Treasures in Heaven
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,[a] your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy,[b] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 
24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Where is your treasure? In Matthew 6:21, Jesus says that where your treasure is, that's where your heart is also. Pastor Matt asks, "Where are you investing?"

When you invest in something, you make sure it is taken care of.

What does it mean to hoard? Pastor Matt talks about the television show Hoarders. We may not be hoarding to that extreme, but a hoarder is one who stockpiles and collects things. God says, don't worry about keeping treasures here on Earth. Instead, focus on building that treasure in Heaven.

Have you ever had anything stolen? Matt talks about a time in Lima, Peru.

While in the airport, getting ready to go to a conference, someone walked by and took his bag. In the bag there was money, driver's license, iPad, Passport, and all of his sermons. He explains that it doesn't really matter because you cannot take it with you to Heaven. It's temporary. That's why God says we shouldn't place too much value on Earthly treasures.

Instead, we need to care about the things that God cares about. He cares about people. In line with God, we too need to care about people and the church.

How can we put treasures in Heaven?
We can't talk about putting treasures in Heaven without first talking about tithes and offering. What is tithing all about?

Tithing is a Test
Before we can talk about tithes, we have to understand that our God does not change. He's the same today as he was yesterday. He is the beginning and the end. He is a big God and he never changes.

A tithe is another way of saying 10. How many plagues were there in Egypt? 10. How many tests in Revelation? 10. Throughout the Bible, God used tests and the number 10 is related.

Tithing is an Ordinance
An ordinance is a principle that we follow for ordinary practices. Therefore, when we give a tenth of our income, we're doing what we're supposed to do. Christians are supposed to tithe anyway. We shouldn't be happy with ordinary, we should seek to be EXTRAORDINARY.

We Bring Our Tithe To God's House
We don't give a tithe to the Boy Scouts, television ministry, or anything else. We can give an offering (which is going above and beyond...aka...being extraordinary), but our tithes go to God. Even in times of mourning or hunger, we are not supposed to spend that money.

Pastor Matt talks about how he would often buy snacks while taking road trips. After buying some M&M's for the kids, he'd ask them for a few. The kids would  quickly reply, "But, Dad....they're mine!"

Similar to that story, God says the same to us. I've given you all of these things (i.e., job, car, house, etc.), but you won't return 10 percent?

Pastor Matt tells a story about this one time when he was young and how he made a few dollars. As he grew older, his salary got larger. The only thing that God is asking for is 10%. Using bags of M&M's to demonstrate, he shows what 10% of a growing salary looks like.

Tithing is Biblical
Matt shares a number of examples where godly men gave a tithe. Tithing is a good thing, but we have to remember that everything is God's anyway. Let's be humble and obedient.

[Deuteronomy. 26:1-4]
Firstfruits and Tithes  
1 When you have entered the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance and have taken possession of it and settled in it, 2 take some of the firstfruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land the LORD your God is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go to the place the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name 3 and say to the priest in office at the time, “I declare today to the LORD your God that I have come to the land the LORD swore to our ancestors to give us.” 4 The priest shall take the basket from your hands and set it down in front of the altar of the LORD your God.
[Deuteronomy. 26:13-15]
13 Then say to the LORD your God: “I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, according to all you commanded. I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any of them.14 I have not eaten any of the sacred portion while I was in mourning, nor have I removed any of it while I was unclean, nor have I offered any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the LORD my God; I have done everything you commanded me. 15 Look down from heaven, your holy dwelling place, and bless your people Israel and the land you have given us as you promised on oath to our ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey.”
Did you know that many couples in marriage argue over money? The love of money is the root of all evil. The Devil does not what you to give back to God. So, are we going to give in to the Devil or do what God asks us to do?

Tithing is a Demonstration of Trust
Can God trust you with what what has been given? Faithful in little, faithful in much.

Pastor Matt brings up three volunteers. He tells each one that he is going to pay them a monthly salary of $10,000. In return, he asks each of them to help support his wife, Martha Fry, by giving her $1,000 each month.

[Note: This is just a demonstration]

The first guy gives $1,000 per month as instructed. The second guy gives $2,000, and the third guy gives sporadically ($700, $400, and nothing else since).

Now, if this scenario were true. How many would trust these guys? Hands go up for both persons 1 and 2, but few for the last person (those few must have been friends [laughter in the audience]).

Similar to this story, Jesus says that he's going away. All he asks is that we will take care of his bride (church). Can we do that? Can we tithe our 10%? Are you willing to go the extra mile and be extraordinary?

Do You Need A Fresh Start?
If you would like to make a fresh start in your life and receive God's love, pray this prayer:
Dear God, I realize I've sinned and I need you. Thank you for dying on the cross and rising from the grave. Come in to my heart and save me. Thank you for giving me eternal and abundant life. Help me to live for you, for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name. Amen.
To share your story, want more information about next steps, or just in need of prayer, please contact Pastor Matt Fry.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Learn How To Speak In A Decision-Maker's Language

A few weeks ago, the university I work for brought in consultants to help fix issues with our web site. Their job involves creating a super committee, which consists of high-level decision makers, and facilitating the development of new or revised policies, standards, and guidelines.

While we're talking about improving on our web infrastructure, the problem is not really technical. It's more about how we govern ourselves and communicate with various stakeholders.

For years, I have tried to share with my boss potential challenges and opportunities surrounding the web. Sometimes I'm successful, other times I'm not. The real issue comes when I try to communicate those same messages to the Chief Information Officer. Why is it so hard? It wasn't until the consultants came that it became crystal clear.

The problem, as I understand it now, is that I wasn't using facts. Instead, we would convey information based on experiences, opinions, and anecdotal evidence. While that's great for a discussion with my team, it wasn't working with decision makers.

Having seen the light, I've been trying to apply this new lesson throughout my life. The question I now ask is this, "What do the numbers say?" "What are the facts?" To put it another way, "You cannot manage what you cannot measure." Therefore, let's try to measure everything.

Tools of the Trade

Based upon my limited time with the consultants, the following tools seem to be used heavily within their arsenal:

Reconnaissance
One of the first things I noticed the consultants do upon arriving on campus is to organize conversations with a variety of stakeholders. In a relaxed environment, they asked people questions. As one of the consultants once said, "It's all information." Everything that is uncovered during a conversation is information that could potentially help them discover holes in the Matrix.

Survey
After the consultants finished their conversations across campus, they put together a list of questions using information gathered during the reconnaissance mission. From a business point of view, this is a key resource to confirm problems or identify new opportunities.

Inventory Database
After the discussions and survey results, it's time to store that data somewhere. The consultants I'm working with call it an Inventory Database, but it's really just an Excel file. The database is where you can load tons of information and compare it to like data. How well is Department A doing when compared to Department B? With a quick scan, that question has an easy answer. Another advantage of the inventory database is that missing information is quick to spot.

Final Thought

Even though we're only a few weeks into our project, I'm learning a lot from the consultants. Right now, it's about gathering information, communicating our findings to the decision-makers, and allowing them to translate the message. As a manager, that seems to be a rather easy job to maintain going forward. Although, I'm interested in finding out where we can go from here.

In the coming weeks and months, I'll keep you abreast of any new lessons that I find interesting. In the meanwhile, let's talk about how you communicate with executives. Let's chat in the comment section below.

The Great Depression And It's Effects On Kappa Alpha Psi

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. at Howard University (1934)
By 1929, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., like many organizations during this time, felt the effects of the Great Depression. Unemployment, along with other ills, became the norm. As a result, the fraternity found that many of its chapters were unable to meet their financial obligations.

Albert Spurlock in front of KAPsi Fraternity House (1936)
In addition to financial challenges, the organization identified a growing trend among members that appeared to favor the local chapter over Grand Chapter. This attitude of indifference toward the fraternity's rituals and traditions led to a more individual and highly localized Kappa Alpha Psi that directly contrasted the "One Kappa" of its early years. To its credit, the fraternity maintained a solid Guide Right and scholarship program.

As the country fell victim to joblessness and despair, the members of Kappa Alpha Psi continued to promote achievement in every field of human endeavor. In 1931, the fraternity established six new chapters, which meant that its membership continued to grow and expand.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

My Professional Mentoring Started With One Question

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about professional mentoring and my initial ideas on how I would execute a program at work. I also mentioned how a well established, and highly respected, guy asked if I would be open to receive career guidance. Absolutely! I replied.

Since that initial discussion, he and I recently talked about how this arrangement would begin and hopefully mature over time.

It started with a question, "What is your 3 to 5 year career plan?"

A Little Context Please!

Hmmm, what does my plan look like? Let's see, that would put me in the 40-42 year old range.

I'd say that by 40, I should finally have my doctorate and comfortable with long-form writing. Professionally, I would have gained over 8-10 years of management experience with 16-18 years in higher education.

I subscribe to the idea that the position seeks the man, the man doesn't seek the position. However, this doesn't mean I'm blind to opportunity or void of aspirations. Trust me, I'm not.

Prior to my role as IT Manager, my goal was to obtain management experience. I wanted the chance to hone my leadership skills while doing something meaningful. I believe that's happening now.

While I knew the path to leadership wasn't going to be an easy one, I find great pleasure in learning about myself and the areas that need improvement. Take for example my recent communication faux pas.

Looking forward, there is still so much I can learn about how to successfully manage what I have been given.  Whether that is financial resources or personnel, am I doing all that I can to maximize on that?

Today, I feel confident that within the next few years I will finally tighten up on my own discipline and best practices. As a result of this, I believe the team and I can make greater strides in whatever we do.

Without further ado, let me just chart some broad strokes for the next 3-5 Years:

My 3-5 Year Career Plan

By this time in my life, I would like to have greatly improved my leadership and writing abilities. The leadership experience would grow from pursuing challenging projects and tasks that allow me to test myself and grow. Enhancing my writing skills would come from the finished dissertation and a subsequent book on organizational management.

Along side these activities, I plan to increase the number of presentations I do a year to help establish myself as an expert in the management space.

Together, these skills would help me develop into a seasoned candidate for an executive position within a company. In this role, I would like to help the organization become more efficient and productive. I would lead through inspiration and a shared vision.

While my energy would be focused on supporting the company mission, I long for the day when I can return to my own empire building. Entrepreneurship is in my blood.

Final Thought

I guess that's all I have for now. Not sure I'm ready for my mentor to read this, but it's a good start. What do you think? Doable? Let me know in the comment section below.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

History of Kappa Alpha Psi: 1927 - 1929

Over the past few weeks, I've been working through the history of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. in an effort to build out chapter two of my dissertation. Looking back, the articles have been rather sterile (factual but without emotion). That's cool, I suppose. It's just that I'm not sharing some of the gems I find nor am I relating it to anything I'm currently dealing with in the organization. In this article, I would like to change that.

Moving forward, I would like to continue writing the dissertation one blog at a time, but use the articles to also share my own thoughts on the matter. Now, when I write the dissertation it will ignore the extra commentary. Is that cool?

When I last wrote, my focus was on the years between 1922 and 1925. In this article, I plan to move forward from there.

Between the years 1927 and 1929, the fraternity continued to deal with a number of issues related to race and  campus housing. With a history of slavery and racial inequality, African-American's during the early 1900's were not exempt from the segregation and lack of opportunities afforded to other college students of that time.

In an article written for the March 1927 edition of the Kappa Alpha Psi Journal, Rufus Kuykendall describes the conditions at Indiana University. He explained that "Negro" students payed their state taxes but were not offered all the conveniences provided during a college education. One example cited referenced exclusion from the local Panhellenic Council. Kappa Alpha Psi, according to Indiana law, should be recognized by the organization, but it was not.

Kuykendall continued to list other examples where the color of ones skin limited a student's participation in the band, Reserve Officer Training Corps, or campus swimming pool. It is through this kind of environment, both on campus and off, that African-American's had to work harder in order to achieve in life.

As undergraduate students, many African-American's lacked the financial resources to afford suitable housing. One benefit of membership in Kappa Alpha Psi was the financial assistance provided by members to secure adequate funding. By 1929, members at the Alpha Chapter (Indiana University) still struggled with paying their bills. Part of the problem was lack of financial resources but also an attitude of entitlement by some in the brotherhood.

The attitude of entitlement at the Alpha Chapter was not unique. In fact, other members across the fraternity began acting in ways that put the fraternity at risk. During Province Councils, some members wanted to end  the Guide Right program. Additionally, the organization failed to increase financial and active members. Any achievement recognized by the fraternity was due to the "faithful few."

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Manage Life Like You Water Plants

Each morning, upon my arrival into the office, I gather my coffee supplies and proceed with brewing a fresh cup of hot java. If you've ever made coffee then you know that it requires a clean pot, coffee grounds, filter, and cold water.

As of late, I've been filling the coffee pot to its maximum capacity, although I only use 4 cups worth of water. Why? Because the other six cups help hydrate my plants.

I first noticed the change last week and realized how healthy my plants had become. Instead of watering them once a week, like I had done for years, my daily watering seemed to have turned my babies around for the better.

This particular morning, I started thinking about how much easier life would be if we managed it like we water plants.

Examples

  • Cleaning House - Instead of cleaning the house on Saturday morning, why not clean as you go throughout the week. For example, when you get out of the shower, wipe the tub before it dries or make your bed as soon as you get up.
  • Paying Bills - When you get a bill in the mail, why not schedule a payment through your bank. The check doesn't have to go out right then, but once you set it...forget it.

Inch By Inch

You know the saying, "Inch by inch anything's a cinch." Like watering the plants each morning, it takes no real extra effort to hydrate them while making coffee. So too then is life. Let's look around our lives to find ways to do a little work each day.

Feedback

In the comment section below, I would love to hear your thoughts. What other examples of smaller tasks do you have that make life so much easier?

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Putting Your Time Budget On Autopilot


It's Sunday evening and I'm thinking about my weekend. What did I do with this weekend? Was it a complete waste of time? Fortunately, I can say that it wasn't.

Unlike many of the weekends before, my schedule is finally set on autopilot for both Saturday and Sunday. Here, let me explain what I mean.

A few years ago, I adopted a time budget. Essentially, this is where I allot a set number of hours for various areas of my life (i.e. Blogging, working out, school, and the like). During the week, I'm pretty good about following my plan because it's already on autopilot. Unfortunately, that success goes out of the window come Saturday morning.

Why? you ask. I believe it was due to an empty schedule. In the absence of a plan, I did whatever came to mind. If I wanted to sleep, I would. If I wanted to watch a few movies, I did. Come Monday morning, I regretted my poor decisions.

What's Different About This Weekend?

Unlike the many weekends before, I finally filled the calendar with my approved time budget. At the very least, I now have a generic plan of action for all seven days of the week.

Thanks to the Google Calendar "Repeat" option, my calendar is pre-scheduled from now until eternity.


What Happens When Things Change?

If there is one thing we can count on it's that things will change. With my generic time budget on the calendar, I can easily adjust my schedule to accommodate those unexpected events.

Using the example above, I have scheduled the Techmonks Podcast for 9 pm each Sunday night. Unless I change the plan, this event will repeatedly show up on my calendar during the 9-10 pm hour. Now, let's assume that a more pressing matter requires my attention. How would I handle that?

Step 1: Add the new event to the calendar

Step 2: Delete or reschedule the podcast during a different time. It is important to note that a repeating event is attached to a string of other similar events. When you make any changes to a re-occurring event, you will have the option to change only this event, following events, or all events (both before and after). Typically, I only adjust the single event because I assume that I'll be back on schedule next week.

Final Thought

I know, it's really just a minor adjustment but I think it will make all the difference in the world. The real test comes in the weeks that follow. Will it help or fall flat? We'll find out soon enough.

Until next time...

Live Blogging C3 Church: Yeshua - Living The Blessed Life (Part II)



This weekend, Pastor Matt Fry continues the Yeshua series at C3 Church. Stay tuned during the 11:15 am service (EST) for a live blog of the sermon. Refresh this page during those hours for a regularly updated post.

If you would like to view the service online, please click here.

Foundational Scripture: Matthew 5:8

God Blesses Those Whose Hearts Are Pure
God doesn't say a perfect heart, but a pure (or clean) heart. Jesus wants your heart. He wants to be first in your life. Therefore, a pure heart means that you are 100% dedicated to him. Nobody can serve two masters. You will hate one and love the other.

Why can't you serve God and money? Why is money used here? In the Bible, the original translation of money is material things.

Matt talks about three temptations:
  • To Shine - attention for self
  • To Whine - complain and negative
  • To Recline - a consumer 
God wants us to prune our heart. He wants first place in your:
  • Time - Start each day / week by giving God your time (i.e. in prayer) 
  • Talents - Your best effort
  • Treasure - First fruit = Tithes
Declaration: I'm going to put Jesus first place in my life with my time, talents, and treasure.

God Blesses Those Who Work For Peace
Peace makers will be called children of God. Are you making peace or conflict? Jesus wants us to be peace makers.

When Jesus died on the cross, he became our bridge so that we would no longer be separated from God. 

In Ephesians 2:14-18 (NIV), Jesus didn't just die for the Jews but also for the Gentiles. Being Christ like is not about building walls but bridges. Let's not divide but bring people together. Let's put our eyes on the lost, hurting, and hopeless people.

Pastor Matt explains how growing up, he didn't want to be a head pastor. He liked the youth group and the energy they brought. When they built C3 Church thirteen years ago, he wanted to bring the energy of the young into the adult services. It's about building a bridge.

Declaration: I'm going to be a bridge builder, not a wall builder.

God Blesses Those Who Are Persecuted
Are you willing to be persecuted for Christ's sake or are you just trying to live a comfortable life? If you want to be blessed then you need to prepare for persecution. 

In the U.S., we may not know much about persecution in the way many others do. Being mocked, killed, or ridiculed is just a few things Jesus went through for us. 

Why are some people wimpy about Jesus? We can talk about God or religion, but when we mention the name of "Jesus," people get nervous. There is power in the name of Jesus. He is the way, the truth, and the life!

Declaration: I am going to rejoice when I am persecuted rather than seek revenge.

Do You Need A Fresh Start?
If you would like to make a fresh start in your life and receive God's love, pray this prayer:
Dear God, I realize I've sinned and I need you. Thank you for dying on the cross and rising from the grave. Come in to my heart and save me. Thank you for giving me eternal and abundant life. Help me to live for you, for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name. Amen.
To share your story, want more information about next steps, or just in need of prayer, please contact Pastor Matt Fry.

Kappa Alpha Psi's Continued Growth: 1922 - 1925


In 1922, during the Twelfth Grand Chapter, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. adopted Guide Right as its national service program. The idea behind the program was to assist high school seniors in selecting a meaningful career. In addition to guidance, the fraternity also provided college scholarships to those in need. Initially, the program focused on providing counseling during a seven day period, which was also known as "Concentration Week." By 1923, Guide Right had become a year round effort.

At the Fifteenth Grand Chapter, hosted on the campus of Columbia University during December 26-30, 1925, Kappa Alpha Psi reported continued growth in its membership and local chapters. By 1925, there were twenty-three undergraduate chapters and sixteen alumni chapters. It was also during this meeting that the designation of "Regional Director" became "Province Polemarch."

Saturday, February 18, 2012

3 Recommended Changes To Improve Communication Skills


A couple of years ago, I wrote a post titled Better Communication: Annotate Your Thoughts, which I wrote after a fraternity brother made a comment about my administration's poor communication. As the president of the local chapter, I take responsibility for our lack of sharing and transparency. I still do.

Earlier this week, the local chapter fell victim to another issue that could have been avoided had we developed a stronger communication system. As a result of that situation, I'd like to brainstorm some initial thoughts on the subject and identify a few recommendations for making things better in the future.

Problem
Without going too deep into the chapter's business, something unexpected happened. Instead of addressing the issue immediately, the problem festered and quickly grew out of control. There were plenty of rumors and assumptions to go around. As a result, members grew concerned, upset, frustrated, confused, and ultimately distracted. For days, it spread from one part of the state to the other and back again.

In the past, these kinds of problems caused unnecessary complications that do more harm than good. While I use the fraternal organization to introduce the topic, this problem is not limited to our membership, region, or gender only. It can happen to you, too. It's universal.

The Back Story
What I haven't told you is that my administration was all over the problem from the moment it reared it's ugly head. Unfortunately, nobody outside the few called to fix it were aware of the strategy and the action to resolve  it. As a result, people reacted the way you'd expect them to react in the absence of information. They panicked. Can I blame them? Absolutely not!

In hindsight, I would have handled it a bit different. Instead of keeping silent, I would have reported what I knew and shared our plan to resolve it. As new information became available, I would continue to provide updates. It's that simple.

Moving forward, I would like to share a few recommendations on what I can do better next time. While I'm writing it for me, feel free to borrow whatever you need.

Recommendations For Change

Recognize The Problem
In my story, the first bad decision was not communicating with the membership. When I was first made aware of the issue, I should have recognized that there was a problem.

At work, I receive hundreds of emails per day. Sometimes I respond immediately and other times I schedule  a response for later in the day (or week...if I'm really busy). Most people accept a reasonable delay with email or voice mail. However, if it takes too long to respond, a small issue can quickly grow out of control.

Recommendation: Recognize the problem when you are first made aware of its existence. You can do this by responding to an email or verbally expressing that you identify that there is a problem.

Provide Updates Often
The second mistake in this whole situation was not involving the chapter in our game plan. As the week rolled on, the membership received no official word on what the next steps were going to be. As a result, brothers started taking matters into their own hands.

Recommendation: Be open and transparent about what others can expect from you. Share your plans and any related updates regularly.

Act Now
One of the worst things one can do in a situation like this is to do NOTHING at all. Listening to doctors, early detection and a deliberate response is a good thing. Waiting for things to get better without action is bad. Ignoring an issue often leads to a bigger problem.

Recommendation: Don't wait for problems to iron themselves out. Act NOW!

In closing, remember to recognize the problem when you are first made aware of it, control expectations by sharing your plans for resolution, and take action immediately.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

The Early Expansion Of Kappa Alpha Psi: 1919 - 1921


On April 6, 1919, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. designated Chicago Alumni Chapter as its first alumni chapter. Unlike the undergraduate chapters, which were named with Greek letters, alumni chapters were designated by the city in which it was located.

Scrollers Club, Wilberforce University circa 1922
Between the years 1911 and 1919, the Fraternity expanded to include ten undergraduate chapters and one alumni chapter. From the very beginning, members were initiated into the organization by way of a pledge club. In 1919, after a sharp influx of new pledges, the Fraternity needed a more standardized orientation program. As a result, the Zeta Chapter introduced the Scroller Club.

As the Fraternity continued to grow, the membership realized a need for additional oversight. During the tenth Grand Chapter, which was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from December 30, 1920 to January 1, 1921, legislation was adopted to divide the Fraternity into three districts. Each province was under the charge of an executive officer.

Image: Iowa Chapter Kappa Alpha Nu 1915

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Sunday, February 12, 2012

Live Blogging C3 Church: Yeshua - A Study of Matthew's Gospel


This weekend, Pastor Matt Fry continues the Yeshua series at C3 Church. Stay tuned during the 9:15 & 11:15 am service (EST) for a live blog of the sermon. Refresh this page during those hours for a regularly updated post.

If you would like to view the service online, please click here.

Foundational Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12 (NLT)

God Blesses The Poor
What does it mean to be poor in spirit? This is when we are completely dependent upon God. Our successes are worth nothing when compared to God. Less of me, more of Jesus. When you're full of Jesus, you will be blessed. When we feel poor, the Lord will make us feel rich.

If you want to live the blessed life, it begins with the poor in spirit. We need to be humble. Having all the things in the world does not protect us.

Declaration: When I am weak God makes me strong!

God Blesses Those Who Mourn
The Holy Spirit is our comfortor. Pastor Matt tells a moving story about how he lost his mother. The Holy Spirit told him that he would have peace. God will give us the peace even before we know we need it.

If you go to Jesus with your mourning, you will be comforted.

Matt talks about his trip to Haiti and how a number of kids were without their parents due to the earthquake. It broke his heart. The kids at the orphanage were hurting and they needed hope. As he played the high five game, more and more kids came to play. Eventually, there were more kids that wanted to play than he had hands.

Jesus may have felt similarly when he was in the midst of the people. He needs help. He needs our hands and feet to help him.

Declaration: Lord, may my heart break for the things your heart breaks for.

God Blesses The Humble
God blesses those that humble themselves. Being meek, which is another word for humility, does not mean being weak. Being humble is a tough thing to do. We need God to help us do this.

Remember: Meekness is not weakness!

You may feel like you're up a creek without a paddle, but we have to humble ourselves. This means that we're teachable not defensive. Pride hinders us from being used by God.

The disciples, when they knew that God would use them, could have easily being prideful. Jesus tells them early, be humble. Serving others breaks the chain of pride. Jesus showed the disciples how to be humble by washing their feet.

Declaration: I'm going to demonstrate humility as I serve others with no strings attached.

God Blesses Those Who Hunger
Only Jesus can fulfill that hunger and thirst. Bless those who hunger and thirst for the things of God. When we pursue Jesus with passion than we will be blessed.

Does your soul pant for God? When you do, then you will be blessed.

Declaration: I'm determined to pursue Jesus with passion no matter what everyone else does.

God Blesses Those Who Are Merciful
As we have mercy, we received mercy. As we forgive others, we receive forgiveness.

How many times do I have to forgive my husband, wife, or those who have hurt me? Jesus says 70 times 7 (which equals 490) times. This means that we need to have unlimited about of mercy for others.

We should forgive the way God forgives.

Declaration: I'm going to forgive others even if they don't forgive me.

Do You Need A Fresh Start?
If you would like to make a fresh start in your life and receive God's love, pray this prayer:
Dear God, I realize I've sinned and I need you. Thank you for dying on the cross and rising from the grave. Come in to my heart and save me. Thank you for giving me eternal and abundant life. Help me to live for you, for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name. Amen.
To share your story, want more information about next steps, or just in need of prayer, please contact Pastor Matt Fry.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Smithfield Alumni of KAPsi and Men Of Distinction Host 'Valentine's Day Breakfast'


This morning, brothers of the Smithfield Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. along with the leaders from the Men of Distinction came together to enjoy breakfast at the Golden Corral in Smithfield, NC. The event was called a "Valentine's Breakfast" which gave the chapter an opportunity to recognize the Silhouettes (the wives of Kappas) and thank them for their support.

The event, which hosted about 30 people, began with a brief welcome and introduction. Following the occasion, a plaque was given to Dr. Cynthia Ennis, the wife of the late Reginald Ennis, a charter member of the Smithfield Alumni Chapter. Dr. Ennis, as revealed by Brother Marlon Lee, was key in molding the hearts and minds of many generations. In fact, it was during a program called Friends of Distinction that Dr. Ennis first led Marlon and his fellow students toward academic achievement.

Through that experience, Brother Lee later created a similar program devoted to helping young men achieve in life. He called them the Men of Distinction.

Men of Distinction began in the year 2003 at Clayton High School in Clayton, NC. It's motto, We stand T.A.L.L. (To Achieve Learn and Love), is both meaningful and appropriate. Standing at 6'11", Marlon Lee and his Men of Distinction certainly garner attention.

Brother Lee is a highly decorated head coach who leads the Girls Varsity Basketball Team at Clayton High School. As a coach, he has been voted Coach of the Year three times and the first African-American head coach at Clayton High School. As a player, Marlon helped St. Augustine's College win the CIAA Championship in 1997.

The Men of Distinction, which is often recognized for its community service activities and overall academic achievements, currently houses 37 guys on the roster (25 at Clayton High School and 12 at Smithfield-Selma High School). Of the 25 students at Clayton High School, 19 maintain an A/B average.

According to Marlon, the academic achievements are the result of the strong brotherhood between members. Using the "each one, teach one" approach, members help each other. Lee explained that where one student is good in math, the other is good in science and they help each other succeed.

"People are watching, so why not let them watch us excel," Lee says.

The Men of Distinction program, under Marlon's leadership, was doing so well that they started another chapter at Smithfield-Selma High School. Lamar Minter, a Microsoft Academy teacher at Smithfield-Selma High School, recalls how it all began. He explained that after a Smithfield Alumni & Men of Distinction event last year (Real Men, Real Talk), a student asked if they could start a local chapter. Marlon agreed and the rest is history.

The Men of Distinction program not only focuses on brotherhood and grades, but also gives back through community service projects (i.e. peer tutoring, football field cleanup, and Power Hour with the local Boys and Girls Club).

As a member of the Smithfield Alumni Chapter, Brother Lee sees the Men of Distinction as a part of the local Guide Right program and actively encourages members to join its Kappa League.

Overall, I'd say the Valentine's Breakfast was a good event. It brought parents, chapter brothers, community leaders, families, friends, and the youth out for a fun and enjoyable time.

If you cannot see the photo gallery, click here.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

The Early Years Of Kappa Alpha Psi: 1911-1914


Only months after its birth, the members of Kappa Alpha Psi organized its First Grand Chapter, which convened on May 19-21, 1911. During this time, the fraternity held its first social event, elected officers, and conducted business related to establishing a national organization.

One thing that I find interesting is that the members were cognizant of the fraternity's influence over other men and their decision to attend college. Initially, the draw was to Indiana University, but this influence over younger generations to consider education remains even today.

In the Fall of 1911, only seven of the ten founding members returned to school. However, that didn't stop the fraternity from continuing its growth. During the 1911-1912 academic year, the membership formally pledged four new students at the Alpha Chapter.

In 1912, the fraternity's leadership continued to develop the organization by reworking the Constitution and completing the initiation ceremony. Along side those changes, the members crafted the Coat-of-Arms, motto, badge, and emblems.

On February 8, 1913, Kappa Alpha Psi chartered the Beta Chapter at the University of Illinois and the Gamma Chapter at the University of Iowa on March 7, 1914.

As one interested in business, I find the fraternity's growth fascinating. Members faced financial, housing, and even racial challenges that only strengthened their friendship.

Established by ten African-American men, the organization does not bar membership by reason of race, religion, or national origin. Instead, its members sought to find men with high Christian ideals and the purpose of achievement.

By 1914, Kappa Alpha Psi had initiated men of achievement who would become lawyers, civil engineers, doctors, and educators.

It was a noble beginning.

Some Thoughts On Podcasting With Guests


I don't know if you know this, but having guests on your show can dramatically increase the number of listens it receives.

Yeah, I keep telling myself that this is common knowledge but if it is, why am I'm not listening to that inner voice? In fact, I've been telling Tim Arthur the same thing about Techmonks. "We have to get guests on the show" I explain.

Why am I writing about this today? you ask. Well, while updating today's episode of Room 3026 Live, I decided to compare the number of listens for February to that of January. To my surprise, two of the most popular episodes over the past few months were shows where we had guests. Coincidence? I think not.

There is definitely something special about having visitors on the show. The question is what?

Why Have Guests?

Easier To Promote 
The first thing that comes to mind is that a show focused on a guest is easier to promote. When I think about sharing our daily show, typically I'll write, "Room 3026 Live: Episode 462" as the title. That's great and all, but it doesn't explain what listeners can find within that episode. However, when we focus our efforts on one person or topic, the title can easily reflect that.

Guests Bring Their Own Listeners (BYOL)
Depending upon the guest and the size of their support group, I have personally experienced a huge live audience. In addition, the number of archive listens tends to skyrocket as well.

Learn From The Experts
This is probably my favorite reason for having guests on the show, it's because they are really smart people. I know a little about a lot of things, but when talented and experienced guests grace our show the place comes alive.

Builds Your Network
As a result of the previous point, bringing guests on the show not only provides knowledge transfer but it also builds your network. I have met some amazing people over the years and the show only helped facilitate a friendship.

Tips For Hosting Guests
I am, by no means, the perfect producer, but finding interesting people to talk with comes through nurturing your personal relationships.

Start With People You Know
The easiest thing to do is schedule friends who you know well. This tip insures that your first interview won't flop and scar you for life. Part of my success has come through a feeling of confidence and the best confidence booster starts with friends and family.

Do Your Research
This is one of the reasons I don't have guests on as often as I'd like. It is important to take some time and understand your visitor. What makes them unique? What are they doing that caught your attention? What's happening in their industry? In the end, a good conversation occurs when you have something to talk about.

Prepare For An Interview With Questions
Maybe it's just me, but I feel naked without a script or rough outline. When you have guests on your show, take some time to jot down a few questions. You don't have to read them verbatim, but they help you stay focused. Through your research activity you can identify some really interesting questions.

Be Nice!
Unless you're trying to punish a person, don't throw in unexpected questions that might embarrass a guest. I like to share my show notes with visitors prior to the interview. This will help them relax and feel confident about your time together.

It's Not About YOU, Play Your Part
While the show may be yours, it's not really about YOU. When you have guests on, and depending upon the message, the interview is about your visitor. Therefore, remember to ask questions and get out of the way. Allow your guest to elaborate and talk their way through your question. Your job is to help the guest look and sound good.

Schedule Them Often
This is probably the hardest thing for me to do, but it's extremely important. When you talk to people about being on the show, do your best to put it on a calendar. This step will help you prepare for a show, but it also empowers you to make decisions on offering variety in topics and guests.

Final Thought
This article is just my way of capturing a few thoughts on the subject. I know, first hand, that hosting guests on your podcast is very beneficial for both you and your visitor. So, don't waste anymore time and get to inviting. Good luck!

If you have any experiences in this area, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Leave me a message in the comment section below.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

A Historical Overview Of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.


Thanks to my sister and a subsequent conversation with Dr. Osler, I have decided to pick up my original plan and explore the indoctrination process of new members into Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. The idea, as originally outlined in a post last year, was to understand why some people, after joining the organization, stayed committed when others did not.

In an effort to push through chapter two of my extremely overdue dissertation proposal, I'm going to follow my plan and begin with a historical overview of Kappa Alpha Psi.

What is Kappa Alpha Psi?
Kappa Alpha Psi is a college Greek letter fraternity that was founded on the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana on January 5, 1911. Interestingly, the fraternity was originally known as Kappa Alpha Nu until April 15, 1915 when the Grand Polemarch issued a proclamation that officially changed the organization's name to Kappa Alpha Psi.

Who Founded Kappa Alpha Psi?
The organization had ten revered founders:

  • Elder Watson Diggs
  • Byron Kenneth Armstrong
  • Ezra Dee Alexander
  • Henry Tourner Asher
  • Marcus Peter Blakemore
  • Paul Waymond Caine
  • George Wesley Edmonds
  • Guy Levis Grant
  • Edward Giles Irvin
  • John Milton Lee
Over the course of the coming week, I would like to continue exploring the fraternity's rich history, describe its organizational structure, and discuss the indoctrination process.

Brainstorming A Professional Mentoring Program At Work


"I'll write something up and schedule a meeting to discuss it further." Those were the last few words I said before closing the car door. The topic of our discussion was professional mentoring.

This isn't the first time I talked about organizing a mentoring program at work. In fact, I brought the idea up to our previous Chief Information Officer before he left the company. For whatever reason, the program never materialized but I'm still interested in learning from our university's experienced employees.

The concept of mentoring isn't new to me. Over the years, I've had the opportunity to learn from a Chancellor, Vice President for a Fortune 500 company, Chief Information Officer, and Entrepreneur. Those were my formal mentors, but informally I've had other professionals guide me in one way or another.

Just the other day, I had a gentleman ask me if I was currently under someone's counsel. I explained that my previous mentor was retiring and now open to the idea of further enriching my experiences. He continued by saying that I had a lot of potential and that he was interested in guiding me through the professional maze of advancement. With an impressive resume like his, I was honored to know that he thought of me.

All this talk of mentoring got me thinking about how I would proceed. What should I present to our leadership? Who would be interested? What would the program do? How often would mentors/mentees meet? With little to no answers, I decided to simply blog about it.

Why A Professional Mentoring Program?
As an Information Technology Manager, I aspire to one day move up the corporate ladder. Clearly, there are opportunities both in and outside this company but it starts with experience.

As I mentally look around my own division, I see guys that have spent years in private and public organizations. They have strategically moved from one place to another and learned a few things. I would like to capture those lessons before they retire or continue a career elsewhere. To facilitate a transfer of information from one person to another, I think an organized program would help.

How Would A Professional Mentoring Program Work?
In my head, I imagine the program to include a number of higher ranked officers, directors, and managers who would shed light on a series of topics. Those topics could range from leadership to professional etiquette. We could discuss strategies for communicating with company executives and open the door for socializing.

Now, I understand that most executives and experienced leaders are busy, so I don't see taking a great deal of their time. I assume a well planned session where mentees could share their goals, ask questions, and receive advice from visiting mentors would be a great place to start.

As the program matures, there might be sessions devoted to specific topics and an opportunity to put those lessons into practice. Maybe the program would allow for shadowing and one-on-one discussions.

The goal of this program would be to help younger and less experienced employees learn how to be more professional and prepared for leadership opportunities. In working with company executives, those individuals who progress through the program will learn the ropes and demonstrate their ability to lead.

Current officers, directors, and managers may use this program to shape the next generation of officers, directors, and managers. This program can provide current leadership with the assurance that the company will be in good hands once they leave.

As I see things today, there is very little knowledge transfer between the older and younger generations. I fear that our leaders of today will be gone and we would have learned nothing from them.

To hear one Deputy CIO tell it, "We don't know what you don't know." On the flip side, we don't know what we don't know until faced with a situation that challenges us. Maybe that's where it all begins.

Feedback
So, what do you think? What has been your experience with mentors? Have you ever been in a program? If so, how did it go? What did your program do? How does one get it started?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject. Leave me a comment in the section below.

Image by: Loyola University College of Business 

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Speaking At The P.U.S.H. Symposium On March 24, 2012


Recently, I have been asked to present a session at the Propelling Undergraduate Students Higher (P.U.S.H.) Symposium, which is scheduled for Saturday, March 24, 2012 at North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC.

The event seeks to aid minority males in high school, community college, or four-year college/university by offering targeted information that ranges from self-branding to men's health.

The charge for my session is to talk about social media from an employer's perspective. What should young men know about social media? How can they protect their personal brand in the eyes of employers? What are some things job seekers should know to enhance their chances of getting a job through social media? What are the no-no's?

My plan for the 50-minute session is to give attendees information they can use while also engaging them in the presentation. My early thoughts include an introduction followed by a call for volunteers that have an account on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or publish a Blog. In each case, we would review their space and examine the pros/cons.

By the end of the session, each person should leave with actionable items to immediately improve their social media profiles.

This, by no means, represents the final presentation. However, it's where my mind rested last night.

What do you think? What ideas haven't I included? What would you like to know? What important information should young men know about social media and the affect it can have on their future careers? Let me know what you think in the comment section below.

If you are interested in send your son, grandson, nephew, neighbor, cousin, or student to the event. Please register them today by visiting http://pushsymposium-zvents.eventbrite.com/. The cost of the symposium is entirely FREE, but it's only available to the first 200 registrants. So, don't wait...do it now!

Need to talk with someone about additional details, call Jason Dorsette at (919) 530-7814 or Jeffry Coleman at (336) 334-5090.

Image by: Minerva5

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Live Blogging C3 Church: Imagine The Vision


This weekend, Pastor Matt Fry returns to the pulpit for Super Vision Weekend at C3 Church. Stay tuned during the 11:15 am service (EST) for a live blog of the sermon. Refresh this page during the hour for a regularly updated post.

If you would like to view the service online, please click here.

Seven Key Phrases
Foundational scripture Ephesians 3:20-21 (MSG)

In this message, there are Seven Key Phrases and then Pastor Matt talks about the two year vision for C3 Church.

First Phrase: God Can Do
The beginning of success starts with, "God can do!" Some people walk around with an arrogant attitude saying, "I can do it all by myself." Others say that, "We can't do." Your attitude will affect your life.

In an airplane there is an attitude indicator that determines the altitude. So to put it another way, our attitude affects our altitude in life. Make sure that you have a God Can Do attitude.

Surround yourself with other people who have a positive attitude and that believe that God Can Do. Maybe there needs to be a relationship shift. Remember, we become like those we hang around. So, pick positive people.

You know we have a built in attitude indicator, he's called the Holy Spirit.

Second Phrase: Anything
God can do anything. Nothing is impossible for Him. There are no limits for Him. He's all powerful. There are no limits for his grace. We can do anything through Christ.

Third Phrase: Far More
God can do FAR MORE than what we can imagine. Imagine the most awesome thing that God can do for your life, business, kid's life, ministry, future, or church family. God says that he can do far more than that. Why? Because there is no limit to his power. Our God is a powerful God. He wants to do big things and He is looking for those who want to partner with him.

Pastor Matt encourages all to live life FAR MORE than we could ever imagine.

Jesus talks about living a second mile life. Going the first mile is expected, but God loves it when people go beyond the expected. When Jesus died on the cross, he went the second mile for us.

Tithing, going to church, attending a connect group is great, but how can you go even further? God wants us to live a life above and beyond the bare minimum.

Fourth Phrase: By Working Within Us
God always works from the inside out. Man wants to work from the outside in. Religion works from the outside in, but a relationship with Jesus works from the inside out.

There is a gentle working from the inside out. The church just got off a 21 day Daniel fast. That fast worked from the inside out.

Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world.

Fifth Phrase: Glory To God In The Church
God loves it when people give him glory. The church is not the building but the people who are within the church. There are two institutions: Church and family.

Sixth Phrase: Glory To God The Messiah, Jesus!
When people see us, see how are our lives have changed, and then say, "Hmmmmmm, that doesn't make sense!"

Matt talks about a recent high school reunion and they asked him what he was doing. When the answer is, "He is a pastor" they say, "Hmmmmm, that doesn't make sense."

In another story, Pastor tells the story about C3 Church and how it is successful in the middle of a tobacco farm. The only way to explain it is Jesus. That's why God used ordinary people, because it's not about the man but what God has done.

It's all about Jesus, let's give him all the glory.

Seventh: Glory To God Through All The Generations
God not only wants to work in your generation but in many generations. We shouldn't only focus on one generation, we should look at many generations. If not, the church will die a slow death. We have to focus on our kids and the kids that follow.

When we make decisions, let's not worry only about ourselves but worry about how our decisions will affect the kids.

The Vision: Imagine
In a video, Pastor Matt delivers the church's two year vision.

Attack the Debt
Matt is referring to the worship center and the debt incurred to build on the campus.

Development the Campus
This includes upgrades to the multi-purpose center, the children's area, and other campus enhancements. The long term vision is a dream center that can positively affect lives in our area.

[Pastor Matt comes back on stage] He talks about the Dream Center in California and the girl's program in Lima, Peru. Lives are being changed in these places.

One day Pastor Matt would like to have a Dream Center here in North Carolina. To the best of his knowledge, there isn't one in the state. What does God want? he prays.

That prayer reminds him of another prayer made years earlier about C3 Church. Look at where we are today.

In prayer, God told Matt that he needs to focus on two things: Attacking the debt and developing the campus.

How soon will God work? He doesn't know, but in two months we're going to have a celebration to initiate the start of our Imagine campaign. The campus is currently valued at $18 million dollars and the church owes about half of that.

Do You Need A Fresh Start?
If you would like to make a fresh start in your life and receive God's love, pray this prayer:
Dear God, I realize I've sinned and I need you. Thank you for dying on the cross and rising from the grave. Come in to my heart and save me. Thank you for giving me eternal and abundant life. Help me to live for you, for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name. Amen.
To share your story, want more information about next steps, or just in need of prayer, please contact Pastor Matt Fry.

Damond L. Nollan, M.B.A.

Toll-free: (919) 912-9121
E-mail: Contact Me

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