The Hidden Edge

This You Tube link is quite a long one so I have placed it at the front of this Blog.  It’s the sort of music that you will be able to read and listen to at the same time … that is, if you don’t get mesmerised by the visual graphics. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMWAMhLyn58 

I have been threatening to write this Blog for three weeks!  But I have been putting it off!  Actually it is not the link to a slightly depressing subject matter, rather the fact that I live in the moment.  Let me explain! 

Three weeks ago, Mark Pitcher challenged us to write our epitaph.  What would we like to be said about us at our funeral?  He asserted that this would really put our visions and goals into perspective.  Fired up with his enthusiasm I set about writing my own …………. 

The trouble is, that I am not unhappy with my life.  I love where I live, who I share my life with, I love what I do for a living and I have no regrets.  I live now to my max and whatever comes my way that challenges my fancy then that’s what I’ll do.  This makes it really difficult to say, for example, that I travelled the world or lived in the Outback or climbed Mount Everest or any other equivalent as this is not what does it for me!  I do love to ski but negotiating black runs doesn’t do it for me either as I am more the serious social skier.  Hic! 

However, I do have that book or three that I am planning to write; and one day I would like to see it (or them) published.  This is something that I have been challenged with since I met a guy called Alan Taylor, who started at Debenhams Guildford at the same time as I, back in September 1980.  He was writing a fictional fantasy not dissimilar to Gormenghast.  In fact he introduced me to Peake, Tolkein and Donaldson’s work, for which I will always be truly grateful. 

And so … “she lived each moment for the moment, everything had to be done now or not at all.  She learnt loads from others and relished in that.  Her greatest accolade is not what she achieved but the number of people she touched with her enthusiasm and encouragement.  She did, of course, have her best seller – for a while.  This touched many others.   

She will be remembered in her adopted town of Weymouth quite fondly as a staunch business advocate for Southwest Dorset and Lady Town Mayor.  Latterly she undertook the Wanderer’s role for the Dorset Echo, a position that had not been filled since the late Stiv departed.  She and she loved that role. Hic!”

Tell us; how would you like your epitaph to read?

This is probably hyperbole, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperbole) but for those who have been following our Blog musings, this is the last month that the Blog Buddies will be encouraged to participate by the Blog Master.  It has been great fun, interacting with my Blog Buddies and discovering the what and the how; even if most of the technical activities were really above my head.

I wonder how many of us will be Blogging in another six months, and whether those who have fallen by the wayside will resume, when the time is right for them.  It does take time to get into it.  Like most things I suppose!  You need to devote time to master skills and you can’t expect people just to want to read your Blog because it is there.

Six months ago I was quite scared of adding to others’ Blogs for want of upsetting or indeed appearing a dim wit, but recently I have found the confidence to add my tuppance, and have had a response back to my own Blog.  I am invigorated and plan to add to a stranger’s Blog each week from now on.

What me (and me buddies) could do with, is for those, who regularly read but don’t usually comment, to let us know that you are there?  A smiley would do fine! ;0)

And to continue the hyperbole how about this …

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Edy-F5-2HME

Next week I promise to write about epitaths so if you would like to know what that’s all about then click on comment then click on RSS and you’ll automatically receive notification when it is published.

My Blog this week continues the story telling theme.  However, this is about shortening the story to a one liner that really gets the message across. The thought was kick started when Mark Pitcher, an associate reminded me of Victoria Beckham’s goal “I want to be more famous than Persil Automatic”. 

Then on Tuesday night VB in a self portrait piss take muttered the throw away comment – “It’s hard work being fabulous”.  I will be using that one – watch me! 

Subsequently, I found some interesting stuff on a recent Blog by Mike St. Pierre  http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/8-one-liners-that-stick.html  As I alluded in my comment on Mike’s blog, I think there is a lot more than that to the one-liner.  

A great one-liner I have used earlier this week to describe the effect of an eye ulcer was thanks to Robbie; “I look like Kiss but without the makeup!”  These are some other one-liners that I love:

Life is like a box of chocolates¨                

Listen is an anagram of silence¨                

How many do you want exactly?¨                

Whether you think you can or you think you can’t; you are right – Ford¨                

It’s not who you know; it’s whom you know!¨                

Half the people in the world are above (or below) average.¨                

Frustration is the flip side of passion¨                

I’m modest and proud of it!”

And of course for those who know me – I have many more of my own that I use incessantly that still get titters from those who haven’t heard them recently …  “You have ten minutes, ten minutes only; to have a wee, grab a coffee and someone else you fancee … talking to and take a new seat” 

Now it’s your turn to add to the list and while you think about it there’s a few pointers in this: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oB_FK3q9Bi0

If, however, you don’t like sharing, yet love my Blogs, then click on comment and RSS to get an automatic update when I have posted something new

I have today found a great website by Tim Sheppard.  A name that has significant meaning for me from my past; I am feeling very reminiscent at the moment.  I guess, that is, having just turned 45; I am now, half way through my life. 

Tim was the name of my first ‘real’ boyfriend who was good friends with a guy called David Sheppard aka Dinky.  He married my friend Patsy, had two kids and lived happily ever after. 

I digress: back to Tim Sheppard’s great website.  It is a story tellers dream and it does come up top on a Google search for story telling.  In particular please do spend the time to read this insightful piece by the most famous American story teller of all; Mark Twain

…. http://www.timsheppard.co.uk/story/dir/twain.html  

And I pause …. Of course, when I am writing I can pause in any number of ways:  the colon as here, or the semi, a comma, or indeed a series of dots – what are they called?  Oh yes, and the dash!  The question that Twain now awakens is what punctuation depicts the right pause length?  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHSlyyzUR78 

Please carry on telling me your great stories or indeed debate with me what Twain dictates.  If, however, you don’t like sharing, yet love my Blogs, then click on comment and RSS to get an automatic update when I have posted something new.

Over the last couple of weeks the benefit of telling stories (not untruths of course) has come up in various different guises.  The great thing about telling a story is that it tends to have a beginning, middle and end.  It usually has a purpose, some structure and is therefore more easily remembered by the listener.  The listener can use his/her imagination to relate to the story which then takes on its own uniqueness personal to them. 

·         It came up as a piece of advice I gave to someone wishing to get more referrals out of networking.  There is power when you can tell a story of how you have overcome a client’s problem with a proven solution.

·         It also came up as a good way for another client to get a particular message across in a webvert. A story conveys the somewhat boring uniqueness of his product by illustrating the benefits to one particular customer.

·         It was evident in Diana’s memorial concert.  The testimonials, in between the music, from those who had felt supported by her genuine empathy, moved even the most sceptical; I included.

·         And I have just reconnected with an old school friend via Friend Reunited.  The last time we saw each other was when we were 16.  In three emails a piece we are patching together the last 29 years in instalments.  It’s great fun!  As each piece of information comes out there are links to the past and the present that makes the story telling fun as well as memorable.  In his words “better than a TV soap… look forward to the next episode.”

·         Then of course there has been Live Earth this weekend …. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RshSnCfPlck  

I know that it might take a little thinking about but what stories you can tell me that have made a difference either to you or to your clients? 

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I have just reached 101 direct connections on LinkedIn. That means I am one removed from two thousand connections and three removed from 375, 000.

I know that I am a very sad person but …

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-DcNPFWhbk&mode=related&search=

LinkedIn is an online social community - a bit like Friends Reunited but for professionals.  It is designed to be a tool that makes six degrees of separation work.

If you want to get started on LinkedIn, the first thing you ought do, after getting registered, is to complete your profile.  As you do this LinkedIn will identify those ex colleagues who are registered that worked in the same companies as you, during the same period of time.

It is good to reconnect with those; as people do business with those they know, like and trust.  These people already know you from your history together.

So send them an automatic invite.  I have reconnected with the CEO of a previous employed position, which in itself is quite wow.  I nearly killed him on the M25 when I was driving him around my region and talking too much at the same time.  Who says women can do two things at once?

It is easy to gain critical mass by engaging with those who are already registered on LinkedIn, as they already have accepted the value of connections.  So have a look around to see who you might already know, and then who they have connected to them.  If you know these people too and have their email addresses you can easily ask them to link up with you too.

When you have a critical mass, you can start to invite those who are not already on LinkedIn within your own network.  This may require composing your own emails rather than using the box standard ones that LinkedIn provide.  If your intended recognises that it is you (due to the way that you write or what you have written) then they will be more open to the suggestion that they link up with you. 

Personally, I think it is also important to address the fact that in the most part belonging to LinkedIn is completely free.  It only costs if you choose to upgrade.

Now, please don’t ask me what I am going to do with the potential 375K contacts that I have, because I have no idea.  I just know that if I did need them that they are there in my current and up to date network of contacts, which would take months to build if I were starting from stratch.  Not a bad contingency when you think about it!

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This Blog is about ironic trope – I know WHAT?  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trope_(linguistics)  It’s a figure of speech, or a play on words that has persuasive power. 

I asked my husband what he thought was meant by the term Flaming June.  For him, June is the height of summer.   

If you check it out on Google you get Fredrick Leighton’s glorious piece of art:  http://www.art.co.uk/asp/sp-asp/_/pd–10019635/sp–A/Flaming_June_c1895.htm 

For me it has a completely different connotation. At the beginning of the month, the dishwasher broke down; I duly sourced another from the internet which was delivered 5 days later, only to find it was the plumbing at fault not the dishwasher itself.  However, I now have a nice new and shiny dishwasher! 

A week or so later at 5.30 in the morning I jumped in the shower, screamed and leapt back out again.  Three visits later, the boiler man, has yet to discover the cause of the problem.  However, it turns out that we have an emersion heater that was quickly put into working order by a really good and decent electrician friend for the price of a beer! 

Week three and the vacuum cleaner stopped working – phew I wept in relief!  That’s the third thing.  Plus, I hate vacuuming; any housework actually! 

Then driving home on Friday to meet the plumber for the fourth time, broke down, called the AA out, to be informed that there was a hole in the clutch pipe.  (I am sure there is a technical term).  I have yet to discover the ‘that’s great’ response to this piece of fate, especially as the cost is close to £600! 

I lost internet connection on Saturday – does that mean only one more financial encumbrance looming.  Flaming June!  

However, I have found this great trance track … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZlLIEAiJR8  

What do you reckon to Flaming June? 

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I have spent this weekend clearing out oodles of paper that I have stored over the years.  The recycling men are not going to be impressed with the extra work from me this week!! 

Hidden away amongst training notes and other erroneous documents that I have saved over the years, I found several testimonials about my own work.  These are ones that I have not asked for but had been given willingly by the sender. 

I had forgotten that I kept them but having read them, realised why.  I couldn’t believe that it was really me they were talking about?

 It is well known that the power of a testimonial can have an equal effect on one’s client base – and yet if you are anything like me, you fail to use these wonderful testaments to your worth. Is it a British thing? 

Of course a testimonial can be as damaging as useful, if it is considered to be part of a sales ploy.

“Satisfied in Cambridge” is unlikely to win over any hearts and minds.  However, if the writer of your testimonial is related in some way to your target reader then it lends considerable creditability.

So when using testimonials to support your sales pitch, do ensure you have permission to use the authors name, their position, their company (if B2B) and their geographical location.  To add further kudos you might consider adding a link to their website.  If there is a reciprocal link – better still.

If a customer thanks you verbally for the work you have done for them – as part of the acceptance process; ask them what specifically was so good.  If they can qualify their praise, ask them, whether they would be prepared to endorse their own recommendation for your promotional purposes, if you put it in writing?

I know, I know – it’s easier said then done but then, if someone has gone to the trouble of thanking you for good work done, it is likely they actually want you to do well.  Not to mention it is quite rude not to accept a compliment.

One of the best I have ever read was one that was part of Tony Robbins sales team in an envelope.  This newspaper cutting covered what is obviously one of Robbins’ biggest objections for attending his sell out seminars - the walking on hot coals thingy.  The author spoke of his scepticism for the need to walk on hot coals, especially when he was asked to sign a disclaimer for any injury he may incur.  Nevertheless he did the hot coal walk and lived to tell the exuberant tale with healthy feet to boot.

I have heard that volume of short testimonials is important.  I disagree!  A few that tell an important story will work better than many with general compliments.

I leave you this week with the whole reason for getting it in writing ….

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIqwN9YgVxM  

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In previous Blogs I have alluded to poetic licence for using language, words and grammatical punctuation for comic or dramatic effect.  This week I want to talk about oxymora, the plural of oxymoron, a pretty ugly word in its own right – don’t you think? 

Oxymora are a proper subset of the expressions called contradictions in terms. What distinguishes oxymora from other paradoxes and contradictions is that they are used intentionally, for rhetorical effect, and the contradiction is only apparent, as the combination of terms provides a novel expression of some concept, such as ‘cruel to be kind’. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxymoron  

Many oxymora are used as a matter of discourse and are no longer considered to be contradictions; let alone a novel expression of concept.  I site the following in that list: the living dead, old news, seriously funny, near miss, same difference, together alone.

A couple of my favourites are: ‘your silence is deafening’ and ‘the silence sales person’.  I prefer salesman but recognise that it is not politically correct!  Mmm politically correct – is that not now an oxymoron? 

I also like the idea of ‘tax return’ and ‘doing nothing’, but hate the concept of ‘one size fits all’ or the ‘non-alcoholic beer’! 

How many oxymora can you identify in the following clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_bfPGHuOu4

At first count I have 31?

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Those of you, avid readers, of my Blog might be wondering if I am on holiday again.  Alas no!  I have Blog Block.

And, of course, as soon as I realised this, I thought - hey I’m on to something!  This is another of those words/phrases for the alternative Oxford Dictionary or the MacMillan Dictionary whoever picks it up first.  A bit like the ‘new word’ WAGS  (wives and girlfriends) which of course is in particular reference to Footballers!

http://www.macmillandictionary.com/New-Words/060619-WAG.htm

However, I am not going to make my fame in this respect, as following my usual trawl around You Tube I found this!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbkmgUqICH8

 Huh!

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