Category Archives: Learning

I just returned for another absolutely outstanding event – The Million Dollar Consulting College™ Graduate School held at the gorgeous Ritz Carlton in Naples Florida.

“These people represent the finest talent in the profession,” noted Alan Weiss, Ph.D. who conducts this college. “They are the best of the best in terms of methodology, integrity, client satisfaction, and contributions to the profession. And they are highly innovative.”

As both a college presenter and a participant, I was fortunate to be among 12 of world-class consultants and got to spend three intense days working on challenging case studies, role-plays and group exercises. On day two, we were given a couple of real-life critical business challenges by the management of the Ritz Carlton. It was fascinating and a tremendous learning experience to witness how we applied our knowledge, problem solving abilities and experiences and worked as a strong team to solve these challenges while present the solution to the delight of the Ritz’s management.

My presentation, “Advanced Internet and Technologies Made Simple” focused on practical technologies to help consultants in their business. I started with a short video of one of our clients from Australia, Michael Harrison. Last year, prior to becoming a client, I received an email from Michael inquiring about our services. After a brief email exchange we started a Skype session which instantaneously allowed us to be connected between the US and Australia while clearly hearing and seeing each other. I demonstrated this technology to the group and asked Michael to record a brief introduction. Here it is:

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I demonstrated the ease of using the Flip Video to record workshops and testimonials and immediately making them available on the web, such as in this demonstration. Thank you Libby Wagner, Dr. Guido Quelle, Kim Wilkerson, Phil Symchych and Katherine Radeka for the permission to use this.

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Click here to download my presentation converted to pdf document (9.47MB)

Dr. Alan Weiss brilliantly shared with us many exciting concepts. Among them:

1. The importance of focusing on media pipeline just as we are on our prospect pipeline.
2. How to reduce labor intensiveness.
3. The need to constantly develop new intellectual property.
4. Why we need to get our of our comfort zone.
5. Importance of process over content.

On the last day, we had the honor and rare chance of seeing Walt Mossberg, the technology columnist for the Wall Street Journal. He delivered a fascinating 90 minutes presentation. Among the many topics he discussed was the analogy of the Internet to an Electrical grid. Similar to our electricity where you just plug in such devices while some are always connected, the same is with the Internet. Although we have made some tremendous progress, within a few years, EVERYTHING will be ON the Internet. Meaning, you will not have to say: “Are you online?” or “Let’s connect” since the Internet will always be on and for all the devices and gadget we will be using.

Finally, some awesome sunset pictures I took. Life is Good!

I just came across a site loaded with interesting content and terrific value. Another creative idea from Guy Kawasaki, innovative author, writer and entrepreneur. Click on this link www.alltop.com a site, which collects all the top stories on the web and organizes them in logical categories. It is like having your own table of contents to your favorite topics.

(Click on image to enlarge)

When visiting Utah last week and attending my son’s parents conference, several of us parents decided to have dinner together. I was seated next to my wife on one side and one of the parents on the other. He is a retired professor of many years from one of the famous and top universities in this country. I started the conversation asking him about his life, teaching position at the university, his kid at the school and other great questions (at least I think so) in order to engage him. He seemed to enjoy being asked the questions, talk about his life and he was very talkative. Yet it felt really weird. It was not a conversation, it was just me asking a series of questions and feeling like I am interviewing him. Perhaps he felt interrogated but I don’t think so.

After about 45 minutes of hearing him talk, I decided to stop asking questions and see if he may ask me a question or two.

There was silence.

After about 5 minutes he looks at me and says: “Let me ask you a question”
Excited, I was for a moment as I heard my voice say: “SURE, GO AHEAD”
He then proceeds and says: “Since you are one of the new parents at the school here, do you have any questions for me?”
“NO”, I shouted. Turning to my wife and asking her how her day is going.

This video reminds me of some of the training sessions we conduct for our clients and even some of the few I personally attended.

I’ve attended the Blog World Expo in Las Vegas and got to meet some terrific people including Marc Cuban and Matt Mullenweg. Here are some best practices ideas I would like to share with you:

1. It’s a great professional development tool for you and your company. It is a rapid publishing platform focusing on delivering wisdom and knowledge while building a community.
2. To be a successful blogger, you have to be unique, passionate about your topics and love what you do.
3. Post often and at least 3 times per week, or not at all.
4. Talk about compelling topics people are interested in.
5. Solve people problems and be the expert in your niche. Introduce a problem and solve it. Use video and audio. Take a look at this great example from Tim Carter of Ask The Builder.
6. Blogs that start with www.AskTheNAME.com where NAME represents your line of expertise, are a great idea.
7. Ask yourself, what problems is my blog solving?
8. Do not start a blog that you don’t care about or that you are not going to post on and often.
9. Comment on other blogs, which also creates a link back to you blog and drives traffic to you.
10. Refer to other blogs and topics on your own blog and writing.
11. When visitors comment on your blog, welcome them by responding with your own comment, email them and the ones that comment often consider featuring them on your blog.
12. Do not “force” people to register to enter a comment on your blog. But consider moderating and approving each comment.
13. The reason people don’t care about radio is because it is not niche focused. Podcasts on the other hand allow you to listen to content you care about and listen to it wherever and whenever you want. You can also fast-forward a Podcast, pause it anytime or simply delete which is not possible with a radio station.
14. Google loves blogs and solving problems sites.

Ideas to make money with your blog (monetize):

1. Create credibility so people contact you
2. Sell your products and services
3. Affiliate marketing
4. Direct Ad Sales
5. Find a Sponsor
6. Google AdSense