Question of the Day!

Feeling a little angst? Having difficulty moving forward? If you want to get unstuck and release unnecessary stress, it might be time to call your advocates?

Which brings me to the question of the day:

Do you know who your advocates are?

According to author and motivational speaker--who may be a new client of mine--Ed Robinson, your advocates are the gatekeepers to your success. They are the people who can help open doors for you and make things happen. But you have to be willing to ask them for help. Are you willing?

If you don't know who your advocates are, or are unsure, it's time to make a list of all the people you know who have some kind of connection that you need in order to move your business or your life forward.

Once you know who your advocates are, you can then decide how they might be able to help you. You can begin to find new advocates the next time you are at a networking event. If you make a connection with someone at this event, after you get the person's business card, be sure to schedule a meeting. Spend some time getting to know this person one-on-one. Focus on listening to what this person has to say. Maybe there's something you can offer this person first. Maybe this person will become your advocate.

To move away from what might sometimes seem like a scary place in the corner where you're all by yourself, feeling alone and unsure, you have to be willing to ask for help. That's using the E element of your mental BIKE, that Expressive voice--the part of you that knows (because of your Killer instinct) where to locate the help you need. You are naturally drawn to the people you need to meet, the places you need to be, the things you need to do. Your advocates are waiting for you.

And, if Robinson is right, they will listen.

So who's on your list?

(Above photo taken by Jackie Dishner at the Asylum restaurant in Jerome, Ariz., 2009.)

Embrace your supporters

In this social media world of ours, we have every opportunity imaginable to build a stronger network. Through blogging, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and other similar sites (including forums on industry sites, such as one I frequent), our connectibility outnumbers even the imagination.

But how do you make the most of it? How can you ensure that you are embracing your supporters, or the people who could be your supporters when you need the help?

Here's a quick to-do list:

PAY IT FORWARD
Do what Jen Singer did for me and a few other blogging friends today. She linked my blog to hers, with a very nice description I might add. So do the same. Add links whenever you can. Post them on your blogs, on your "tweets," on your Facebook page. Include them in your e-mails. Pass the word around about the people you meet in your online social network who are doing great things, inspiring others, or making people laugh. Spread the word. They'll spread it back. Your social media metwork should definitely be a Pay it Forward place to be. And you have a role in making it so.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION
Visit your friends' and colleagues' spaces online--and post comments. Engage in the dialogue, add to it, encourage others to comment after you.

ACT LIKE A LEMMING
Take part in Twitter's back and forth #followfriday exercise. Every Friday, if you're on Twitter, you have an opportunity to post the names/avatars of people you think make interesting "follows." These could be your friends, people who post funny thoughts, people who share inspiring messages, people who have interesting things to say. If they are worth it for you to follow them, then maybe others will think likewise. So share the names and help expand someone else's territory. And when someone recommends someone for you to follow, check 'em out. If they fit your interests, then follow them, too.

BE GRATEFUL
Offer a thank-you when someone does any of this for you. It's common courtesy. Besides, you don't want to take this stuff for granted. It takes a lot of time and effort to grow an online presence, let alone the network. So it behooves anyone involved to be thankful for the process.

If you have any suggestions to add, please post a comment. We can all learn from eachother.