|
 June
25, 2009
This
Issue: Stepping Out On The World Stage
Social media: is it just the latest fad destined to go the way
of hula hoops or is it the next game-changer? George Kao social
media guru is definitely in the latter camp. George runs
seminars on social media and faces the problem that any leader
of a fresh enterprise, product, or idea has:
How to explain something new to people who have no reference
point for the new thing, idea, or process?
SOLUTION
He does it with metaphors and analogies.
“The social networking space is way better than face-to-face
networking, because the size of the pool for potential contacts
is so much greater… It’s like walking into a room with no walls
and out onto the world stage, a kind of conference of the world
which, by the way, is also open 24/7…Like the hotel, there is a
check-in desk. That’s the search box at the upper right. But
this is a special check-in box. You type in an email address of
someone you are seeking and the name pops up. You type in a key
word of your passion or interest and you are instantly
teleported to the group that is your ideal audience who may be
anywhere in the world…Oh, and did I mention there are no lines
to get to these people?”
George offers metaphors to reinforce his specific tips and
strategies for presenting yourself in the best light online as
well. Many people use LinkedIn for business for recruitment, for
finding jobs, or for developing new business. “Look at your
profile,” says George. “Does it scream ‘boring?’ or does it
humanize you? Just as you have family pictures, awards, degrees,
and artwork in your office to reflect who you are as a person,
put some of this ‘color’ into your profile as well for the
people who come to visit you. Put down your interests, your
passions, books you like to read, etc. Let visitors see a real
person, not just a resume.” (FYI, he liked the fact that I
include cabaret singing on my LinkedIn profile.)
RESULTS
Using familiar reference points to describe what’s
new, George opens up his clients’ minds and hearts to the myriad
possibilities that await them with social media and leaves them
fired up –and ready—to participate successfully in this new
phenomenon.
In Your World
What do you describe that ‘s new? To whom do you describe it?
What analogies or metaphors can you tap to create excitement and
understanding for your innovative ideas, products, or services
that move people to accept and act on these innovations?
See you next month. Remember to Make What You Say, Pay—with
metaphors.
Anne Miller, "Metaphorian"
P.S. For more
information on George Kao:
http://linkedin.georgekao.com
--
http://facebook.com/georgekao
-- http://twitter.com/georgekao
Ever Wonder Where the
Name Twitter Comes From?
Interviewed by Maureen Dowd in The New York Times, Isaac (“Biz”)
Stone, the co-inventor of Twitter, explained the name this way:
We had a
lot of words like “Jitter” and things that reflected a
hyper-nervousness. Somebody threw “Twitter” in the hat. I
thought, “Oh, that’s the short trivial bursts of information
that birds do.”
Perfectly metaphorical! Thank you,
Steve Rivkin for this factoid.
A Wandering Mind Heads
Straight Toward Insight
Latest research
shows that the right brain –where metaphors resonate—plays a
major role in those “aha!” moments of insight that we all have.
Read what you have in common with Newton, Descartes, Einstein
and Archimedes in this fascinating article from
The Wall Street Journal
 PLANNING
A SALES OR ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING?
Give your group a program they will thank you for! Call today to
guarantee your preferred dates and let’s plan a lively, high
pay-off speech or workshop for your organization.
212 876 1875 or email
amiller@annemiller.com |
