OPTIMIZING YOUR IMPACT: Movies and Rollercoasters

Optimizing Your Impact with Jeff Schomay

Hollywood lost it. They used to have it, but they lost it. What did they lose? Impact. Where did it go? First lets define what it is. “Impact” is the opposite of “forgettable.” Impact causes you to be unable to forget the experience because it leaves an almost tangible impression in your heart and mind. It leaves a lasting effect. It changes the way you think and feel. So where did Hollywood go wrong?

Do you like rollercoasters? Have you felt the thrill of each twist, turn, and drop, the exhilaration of 0-60 miles per hour in three seconds? Have you gotten off the ride with your heart pounding and your legs shaking? And then did you go back for more? Some people live for that. Thrill seekers can’t get enough of it. But would you call it impactful?

For the last few years Hollywood has been building rollercoasters, not movies. There is a difference between “thrill” and “impact,” but in this age of “anything is possible with CG,” Hollywood has forgotten that. What’s the last movie you saw? Did it blow you away and keep you up at night thinking about it? Or did you walk out of the theater, heart pounding and maybe legs shaking, but for the most part leaving the movie behind? Thrill is the easy way out. Impact is tough.

So what makes a strong impact? In the movies, as with life, it’s all about a human story. It’s about the journey, what the characters went though, the active – not passive – decisions they made and how different things were at the end of the journey from the beginning for their choices.

When you walk out of a movie, after the adrenalin subsides, what are you left with? In most cases these days, you feel empty, because there really was no story, no journey, no true changes that mean anything. Thrill is just one tool used to tell a story. Story is everything. Rollercoasters can’t offer story. Hollywood can. And people will love the movies more when they get back to it.

So in your own interactions with your own audiences, remember that your market will love you and your products the most when there’s more than just a “thrill” to get their attention, but a story that they can resonate with, a value that means something to them.

There’s always a story behind everything. Find yours.


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Jeff Schomay
Screenwriter, Marketing/Branding ExpertWant to tell your story best? Let’s talk.

jeff@inspire-your-buyer.com

http://jeff-schomays-portfolio.com/Branding-and-Marketing.html

For more information, please visit Jeff's TNNW Bio.

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BEING THERE WHEN IT COUNTS: How "edgy" are you?

Being There When It Counts
with Rick Itzkowich

Here are two vastly different definitions for the word "edgy:"
1. nervous, apprehensive
2. creatively challenging; cutting edge; leading edge

It’s interesting that both definitions can be so different, and yet, so accurate. In fact, I grew up in a household that was definitely "edgy." My father and my mother both embodied the above definitions, with my father representing the former and my mother the latter. Needless to say, the marriage ended up in divorce.

I believe that while many of us aspire to be "edgy #2," we operate mostly from "edgy #1." Which, I think most will agree, is really quite a shame.

I was born and raised in Mexico. My father constantly used quotes, sayings and proverbs to communicate with us. "You’re better off asking for forgiveness, instead of asking for permission" was one of his favorites. And yet, it was my mother who chose to live this way. And, I must say, she has had by far the more interesting life.

So what about you? Which do you tend to ask for more often, permission or forgiveness?

In my business, we work with people’s thinking to help them create extraordinary lives. This means we constantly challenge their thinking patterns and beliefs. Most of the people who attend our courses, experience a gap between the life they are living, and the one they truly want to live. They are definitely attracted by the idea of living an "extraordinary life," but they are held back by their fears, doubts and "what ifs."

Having lived in both edgy #1 and edgy #2 worlds, I can definitely say that edgy #2 is a far more exciting place to play. However, it does come at a cost. With this type of edgy, you will sometimes step on people’s toes and cause them to be upset with you. You will sometimes get in trouble, and you will sometimes get criticized. That’s part of the price of admission. Trust me, it’s worth it!

Case in point, as I’m writing this article, I just received a message from someone who was not happy with the opening on an email message I sent. As I re-read the headline – it was definitely edgy #2. I could see how the subject line could be negatively interpreted the way he did, and why he was not happy. I immediately addressed his concern. I emailed a short four sentence response that explained my intent. I sincerely apologized for having stepped out of line, and I reassured him that I was very much in support of his organization.

What we also forget though is that edgy #1 also has costs. The costs are reflected in living boring lives, having shallow relationships and mediocre businesses. People who live in edgy #1 territory often seldom take action and make things happen. There is a huge cost to living with this mindset.

I have a reputation of being a straight shooter and being very direct. I also have a very dry sense of humor. Between these two traits, I tend to offend some people. If I ever offend you, please accept my pre-apology. Remember, I’m just being edgy!

Here's this month's QuoteAction:

" I will guarantee you that the day you step outside your comfort zone by making success your goal is the day you discover that adversity, risk, and daring will make life sweeter than you ever imagined."Mark Burnett, Founder of the Eco Challenge

Your action is to do something that is outside of your comfort zone.

Enjoy an Extraordinary Month!

Click *here* to find out more about QuoteActions and some of the other innovative products and services offered by THE NATIONAL NETWORKER.

As the creator of the QuoteActions, a unique relationship building system, Rick Itzkowich finds his articles, podcasts and blog messages regarding keeping your brand "top of mind" in high demand. His latest eBook, Social Networking for Business Profits, uses cost-effective follow up strategies. Rick is also the Co-founder and Vice President of Productive Learning & Leisure, a personal development training company for corporations and individuals. Rick can be reached at rick@productivelearning.com.

For more about Rick Itzkowich, please click here.

THE NATIONAL NETWORKER (TNNW):
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You are also invited to click our buttons:




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UPDATES! - News, Developments, Intelligence // October, 2009, Week 3

October, 2009, WEEK 3

SUPERCHARGED NETWORKING : TURNING CONTACTS INTO BUSINESS. CONVERTING IDEAS INTO PRODUCTS.

• Synthesizing;
• Synergizing;
• Mobilizing; and
• Monetizing.

It's what we do.


UPDATE ISSUE 16

Get your free subscription to the TNNW Weekly Newsletter: http://twitlik.com/OK

PROGRESS - We are integrating our websites, blogsites and services to make them more user-friendly, more user-interactive and easier to navigate than ever before. We are finalizing the terms of affiliation with several other service-providers and international cause-centered organizations, including a Not-For-Profit [IRS Section 501(c)3] Charitable Trust. Expect event announcements, fundraisers, contests, and real-time, real-space interaction.

PROGRAMS and PRODUCTS - Just watch.

MEMBERSHIP - During the course of the past year, our subscribership has grown by more than 20%, and is growing at an accelerating pace. Starting November 1st, all Subscribers will automatically be Members. All Members of record (as of that date) will be receiving special benefits, and will be thumbing their noses at you late-joiners.

COMMUNITY - We are not just a group of publications. We are not just a services provider. We are a community, and it is our pledge to use this potentialized, exponentialized critical-mass Supermind to aggressively and proactively assist every Member in attaining his or her goals for self-growth and professional, financial success.

Remember this concept of Interworked Cooperative Community. It is the next step in political and organizational evolution.


With our Commitment of Great Things to Come,

Adam J. Kovitz and Douglas Castle
For THE NATIONAL NETWORKER COMPANIES


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Posted to THE NATIONAL NETWORKER (TNNW). All rights reserved.

To subscribe for your free TNNW Newsletter, go to http://www.thenationalnetworker.com/ For the complete National Networker (TNNW) Relationship Capital Toolkit and a free continuous RSS feed (available either by traditional RSS or by direct email), go to: http://thenationalnetworkerweblog.blogspot.com/


Pick your news? Sure. Everyone should.






Douglas Castle's Secret Blog Links!
http://twitlik.com/DC1
http://twitlik.com/Braintenance1
http://twitlik.com/HM1
http://twitlik.com/IEP1
http://twitlik.com/Internationalist
http://twitlik.com/GlobalFuturist
http://twitlik.com/TC
http://twitlik.com/TNNWNewsletter


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BLUE THING #9: This Week's Top Buzzed Items and Terms

BLUE THING #9: This Week's Top Buzzed Items and Terms

Click on: http://TheNationalNewspickerPage.blogspot.com

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BLUE THING #8: Great Websites and Blogs to Explore

BLUE THING #8: Great Websites and Blogs to Explore

http://www.boredatwork.com
http://www.publicproxyservers.com/page1.html
http://www.drewweing.com
http://vark.com
http://footprints.organique.com
http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/concerts
http://www.crummy.com/software/eater
http://timeticker.com
http://www.edmunds.com/apps/calc/CalculatorController?pmtcalAction=affordability&mktcat=st1&kw=Affordability%20Calculator-%20Internet%20Tools&mktid=st56942443
http://TheGlobalFuturist.blogspot.com

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BLUE THING #7: Most Memorable Quote of the Week

BLUE THING #7: Most Memorable Quote of the Week

Brought to you by The National Networker and QuoteActions.

"Take good care of your reputation. It will live longer than you do."

- An Unknown Author

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BLUE THING #6: Featured Deal of the Week

BLUE THING #6: Featured Deal of the Week

Coming Soon!

You can submit your company’s greatest corporate coupe or conquest for TNNW’s consideration by writing to info@TheNationalNetworker.com. Again, sadly we are not permitted to accept graft or gifts, so the deal which you present to us should be genuinely worthy of a NEWS RELEASE.

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BLUE THING #5: Featured Company of the Week

BLUE THING #5: Featured Company of the Week

Coming Soon!

You can submit your company (or another company which you have the courage to admit is superior to yours) for TNNW’s consideration by writing to info@TheNationalNetworker.com. Sadly, we are not permitted to accept graft or gifts, so we’ll need to hear about the actual merit of your suggested Company.

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BLUE THING #4: This Week's Top News Stories

BLUE THING #4: This Week's Top News Stories

Click on: http://TheNationalNewspickerPage.blogspot.com

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BLUE THING #3: Amazing New Facts and Statistics

BLUE THING #3: Amazing New Facts and Statistics

HEY YOU! Yes you. If you are a Subscriber to THE NATIONAL NETWORKER NEWSLETTER, you are invited to submit your own favorite amazing fact or statistic. If you’d like, we’ll even publish your name (or your organization’s name) and give you credit for your contribution. Note: Unless you are particularly dense, you will recognize that we are actually offering you FREE PUBLICITY in exchange for a mere tidbit of information.

Simply click on the hyperlink below to submit your gem:

*I/WE HAVE AN AMAZING NEW FACT OR STATISTIC!*

If the hyperlink isn’t working, first you must first blame your browser, then your ISP Provider, then Bill Gates (or Steve Jobs), and utter a rapid string of profanities under your breath. [feel better?] Then, just click on this one:

https://ciof.wufoo.com/forms/iwe-have-an-amazing-new-fact-or-statistic/

A compilation of utterly useless information brought to you by The Internationalist Page, Braintenance, Corsinet Trivia Collections and THE NATIONAL NEWSPICKER™.

Following is a veritable cesspool teeming with trivial items to use in pick-up lines in bars, to fill awkward silences in credit committee meetings, and to forward (via email) to the spam filters of Oprah, Bill O’Reilly, Bono, Paris Hilton, Harry Potter [either one], any member of the board of directors of Bank Of America, the president or prime minister of your home nation, or your many friends, family members and people who have far to much time on their hands. Do not send it to Douglas Castle, as he is far too busy for this kind of thing.

Here goes:

Famous Firsts of the 2000's

Hilary Rodham Clinton 2000 --- elected to the US. Senate, becoming the 1st First Lady ever elected to national office. Colin Powell 2000 --- 1st African American secretary of state. Condoleezza Rice 2001 --- 1st woman to serve as US national security adviser. Halle Berry 2002 --- 1st African American woman to win an Oscar for Best Actress. Vonetta Flowers 2002 --- 1st African American female US athlete to win a gold medal in a Winter Olympics. She wins in the women's bobsleigh event on February 19th. Steve Fossett 2002 --- 1st balloonist to fly solo around the world when he landed in Australia on 4th July 2002. Tom Ridge 2003 --- 1st US Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Gene Robinson 2003 --- 1st openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church in US. Condoleezza Rice 2005 --- 1st African American woman to serve as US secretary of state. Anousheh Ansari 2006 --- 1st female "space tourist," on September 18, 2006, she paid $20 million to ride on the Russian Soyuz TMA-9 capsule. also: 1st Iranian in space and 1st Muslim woman in space. Effa Manley 2006 --- co-owner of the Negro Leagues team Newark Eagles, becomes the 1st woman elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Tony Dungy 2007 --- 1st African-American coach to win a Super Bowl. Keith Ellison 2007 --- 1st Muslim member of US Congress (He took the ceremonial oath with a Quran once owned by Thomas Jefferson.) Drew Gilpin Faust 2007 --- 1st woman president in Harvard University's 371-year history. Nancy Pelosi 2007 --- 1st female Speaker of the US House of Representatives. Hillary Rodham Clinton 2008 --- 1st woman to be a Presidential Candidate in every primary and caucus. Ann Dunwoody 2008 --- 1st female four-star general in the United States military. Fahmida Mirza 2008 --- 1st female National Assembly speaker in Pakistan’s 60-year history. Sarah Palin 2008 --- Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska - 1st Republican woman in US history to be nominated for vice president. Danica Patrick 2008 --- 1st woman to win an Indy Car Race - the Indy Japan 300. Barack Hussein Obama Jr. 2009 --- 1st African-American US President. Michelle Obama 2009 --- 1st African-American US First Lady.

Click on: http://TheNationalNewspickerPage.blogspot.com

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BLUE THING #2: TNNW Product/Service of the Week

Other newsletters would give you only ONE Product/Service of the Week. Some might extend themselves a bit to give you TWO. However, here at The National Networker, we offer you THREE. For those of you who are arithmophiles (a lingovation), this is 300% of what the competition offers.

Here they are:

NEWS RELEASES: The most cost-effective way of immediately reaching a giant audience. Click on http://tnnw1.blogspot.com. *NOTE: THIS PAGE WILL BE RE-FORMATTED NEXT WEEK!

THE NATIONAL NEWSPICKER: Get this gadget now. Get the jump on everything you need to know every day – in 20 minutes. You can pick your friends. You can pick your news. At TNNW, we have done the unthinkable. Click on http://TheNationalNewspickerPage.blogspot.com.

*NOTE: THIS GADGET WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO GRAB UNTIL NOVEMBER 1^st – AFTER THAT, YOU’LL HAVE TO COME TO THE SITE TO GET IT. Please…don’t blow your chance to acquire this gadget.

BRUTE FORCE REQUEST: This service is the ultimate BUZZWORKS machine. It becomes available on October 20^th. Learn more – Read the Update! This service can energize your brand, internet presence, website traffic, conversion rate and sales. *NOTE: THIS PAGE WILL GO LIVE ON OCTOBER 20^th.

Not to worry…will give you an url. In fact, we might just give you both the actual url and the shortened url. That’s two urls for each Subscriber. Picture it…an url on each arm! At TNNW, we’re always happy to tell our Subscribers where to go and in no uncertain terms!

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BLUE THING #1: TNNW Surveys, Analyses and Findings

WE ARE EXTENDING LAST WEEK’S SURVEY. We’ve hit a nerve!

We have been receiving a tremendous volume of responses to our TNNW survey about CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, and we have decided to keep the polls open until Thursday, October 22^nd.

Curiously, those people who have benefitted by their dealings with Chambers have simply answered the poll question with brief or no comment whatsoever. Those who have had bad experiences have been prolific with commentary.

If you’ve had any experiences with Chambers of Commerce, whether extraordinarily favorable, or negative, please add comments. We’ll publish them, and our readers love ‘em.

Thanks for participating.

____________________________________________________________

CONTINUING LAST WEEK’S SURVEY: TNNW3

Chambers of Commerce have been around since long before the invention of the internet. Originally, were geographically localized groups of businesspeople and professionals in various villages and townships, with each member in a different specialty (and non-competitive area) from the other members. They were also engaged in sponsoring sports, education, charitable causes and community growth and preservation.

Times are changing. Our survey question is a very direct one:

“Do you believe that chambers of commerce are providing value to your business?”

Please take a moment and fill out the survey form below. If it does not appear (because of incompatibility with your browser), just click on https://ciof.wufoo.com/forms/chamber-of-commerce-survey-tnnw3/ and the form will pop up instantly, like a toaster pastry.

Thank you for participating. Of course, results will be published. We know, we know…the suspense is already causing you sleeplessness. But you also have our assurance that it will indeed be worth the wait!

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A NOTE FROM THE CHAIRMAN: Big Money in the War of Influence Over Healthcare Reform

I'm no politician, nor am I an expert on politics, but I have a new found appreciation for Washington, DC lobbyists, as they seem to be the true networkers (and apparently highly in demand) in and around the U.S. political scene.

Case in point: you would hardly think there's a global economic crisis going on with all of the top-dollar spending on lobbyists in the ongoing U.S. healthcare reform debate. According to a recent article in The Washington Post here's what organizations are spending on lobbying (networking):

• Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) - $8.6 million
• American Medical Association (AMA) - $8 million
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association - $2.8 million
• GlaxoSmithKline - $2.3 million
• America's Health Insurance Plans - $2 million
• Bayer Corp - $2 million
  
• Novartis - $1.8 million
• Metlife Group - $1.7 million
• Johnson & Johnson - $1.6 million
  
• Allstate - $1.5 million
  

When spending like this is as much as $1.4 million dollars a day, it goes to show that these companies will pay top dollar for influence and that they must have a lot to lose if they don't.

Time will certainly tell which will win in the end - big business networking or grassroots networking through various right-wing/left-wing political organizations.

In other news, our latest TNNW poll seems to have struck a nerve. We are asking whether or not Chambers of Commerce provide value to you, and we have gotten some great responses:

"I find that it depends on the Chamber of Commerce. Some cities are more proactive and will extend themselves the extra mile to help you; others are more lackluster and it seems staffed with those less than enthusiastic about their job. In general, my feeling is that there is a need for the personal touch of a good Chamber of Commerce. It can help your business tremendously."

- D.A.P

"Chambers have become too focused on large business transactions. Difficult to break through on a smaller level."

- Anonymous

"In the age of the internet, they are becoming obsolete. At one time, the only way to meet potential new clients was through the local Chamber. Now, it is easier to meet them via the internet. Decision makers whom I need to speak to no longer attend networking Chamber events."

- P.Y.

"I still think chambers of commerce have value, but I tried to get my local one to think globally, without success."

- J.R

"I have found them to be a waste of time; and I've joined and have actively networked, took people out for coffee, and referred folks to many of their members."

- M.M.

We have decided to extend our poll one more week - IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO MAKE YOUR OPINION HEARD - CLICK HERE AND VOTE NOW - if you don't, Douglas Castle (who's name I refuse to mention) will chastise you in one of his next blog entries (trust me...I've seen him do it).

As mentioned last week, my friend Kelly O'Brien Gavin of the The Greater Susquehanna Keystone Innovation Zone asked me to be one of the featured speakers at the kick-off dinner for their first annual Venture Plan/Business Plan Competition at Susquehanna University on October 27th. If you're in (or will be in) the Central/Northeastern Pennsylvania area, I would love to meet you in person there. More details to follow.

As always, I look forward to Networking with you,

Adam

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