Author Archive

Idea Discovery: Blog – Stop Trying to Protect Your Business Ideas

Make your IMPACT(c) … one idea at a time!

Here's my Idea Discovery for today to help you do just that.

Stop Trying to Protect Your Business Ideas – NY Times blog by business strategist Carol Roth

I’d like to share this blog I read about the dangers of trying to protect your business ideas. Read the blog here and stop worrying. Remember….getting your idea out on the table is what’s most important.

My goal is to serve you with resources and strategies that help you clarify, organize, and implement your ideas.

Stay connected with me for more Idea Discoveries.
IdeaSuccessNetwork.com

Sylvia Henderson, Your Idea Coach
Author: "Hey, That's MY Idea! How to Communicate and Get Recognized for What You Know and Think"

Idea Discovery: Article – 5 Invaluable Lessons That Helped me Launch My Startup

Make your IMPACT(c) … one idea at a time!

Here's my Idea Discovery for today to help you do just that.

5 Invaluable Lessons from “Good Idea. Now What?” That Helped me Launch My Startup, Guest blog by Steve Weddle

I came across this blog today on Charles Lee’s – author of “Good Idea, Now What? – website on how guest poster Steve Weddle used the idea tips Mr. Lee provided to launch his volunteering endeavor. These invaluable tips align with my IMPACT process.

You can find the blog here as well as more information about Charles Lee.

My goal is to serve you with resources and strategies that help you clarify, organize, and implement your ideas.

Stay connected with me for more Idea Discoveries.
IdeaSuccessNetwork.com

Sylvia Henderson, Your Idea Coach
Author: "Hey, That's MY Idea! How to Communicate and Get Recognized for What You Know and Think"

Ideas to IMPACT: Terminate Assertively

In my final video about the IMPACT process, you'll hear about seven ways to get what you want that are win-win for everybody involved.

If You’d Like to Leave a Message…

I recently received three phone messages in a row where people left messages to the effect of, “I have an idea to talk to you about. Call me!” They left their names, and that was it. What’s up with that? How do I prepare for a conversation with them? Call them for coaching? Just to talk? To come in and work with their staff? What’s the best time to call them back? At what number?

When you make a telephone call and reach the message that tells you “If you’d like to leave a message…”, leave a message. Please. This is a piece of telephone etiquette that will keep your communications with the called party in good standing. Use these guidelines to leave an effective message so that the called party returns your call (if needed) with the information you need.

Know what you want your called party to do before you make the call. Write it down if you have to so that you are clear with the purpose of your call. If you want specific information, ask for that information. If you want them to take action, ask them to do so. You can make your requests whether you have a live person or an answering machine on the line.

State your name, organization, phone number and best time to reach you in person. You have a better handle on your own schedule (I hope) than you do on theirs. Avoid more than one round of “phone tag” by providing alternatives for when they can reach you in person. If reaching you by e-mail, text message, or instant messaging is more appropriate within your schedule, leave this information early in your message.
Speak your contact information slowly and succinctly so the person listening to your message can write it down without having to replay the message.
Leave a full message after your contact information. This is my biggest annoyance when I listen to phone messages people leave me. I can do nothing with “I’ll call you back later.” I can get the information you need, take the action you want me to take, and be prepared to give you what you need when I return your call if you leave me a complete message. If the answering machine cuts off, at least I have your contact information and can reach you.

Follow effective answering service etiquette and you get just as much – if not more – productivity from waiting for the sound of the beep than talking to a live person at the other end of the line.

Idea Discovery: Brene Brown, PhD – TEDTalk “Listening to Shame”

Make your IMPACT(c) … one idea at a time!
Here's my Idea Discovery for today to help you do just that.

Idea Discovery: Video "Listening to Shame"

When you have ideas, do you let your "inner voice" discourage you from action?
Whose voices do you hear?
How do you get past those voices – sometimes anointed as "shame" – to get moving and get implementing your ideas?

Listen to Dr. Brene Brown's TEDTalk on "Listening to Shame".
http://youtu.be/psN1DORYYV0

Some quotes from her talk that moved me:
1. Vulnerability is the birthplace of creativity, courage, and change.
2. Dare, greatly.
3. Be in the arena.

While she does not directly talk about ideas, her message so aptly applies to us as we consider our ideas and whether we will share, and implement them. She does so with vulnerability and humor.

My goal is to serve you with resources and strategies that help you clarify, organize, and implement your ideas.
Stay connected with me for more Idea Discoveries.
IdeaSuccessNetwork.com
Sylvia Henderson, Your Idea Coach
Author: "Hey, That's MY Idea! How to Communicate and Get Recognized for What You Know and Think"

Take Three

Think about how to communicate your ideas the next time you come upon a group of motorcyclists riding together. Huh? Well, observe how they communicate with one another. Since there is little opportunity for verbal communication, the primary mode is through hand signals, body language, and machine positioning. One has to read the total message communicated by how the three work together in order to understand the action to take.

When two or more people communicate, the total message is conveyed by how words, body language, and behavior synchronize to work together. Environmental conditions in which communication takes place also offer special meaning to the complete message.

Frequently quoted in communications workshops – mine included – are statistics from a study by Dr. Albert Mehrabian of UCLA in the 1970's noting that 7% of a message is communicated through spoken words, 13% through non-verbal signals, and 78% through body language. These statistics in and of themselves present a false picture of how we communicate, however. Of greater significance than individual statistics is that multiple modes of communication must be interpreted together for a clear message.

If you say, "My idea will really make a difference in people's lives" in a voice tone that sounds bored, with your arms crossed tightly across your chest, the message receiver has three different messages: your (1) words say you want to make a difference, your (2) voice says you would rather be somewhere else, and your (3) body indicates you are closed and defensive. Thus, your words come across as false. Make sure you communicate the message you intend in a congruent manner, incorporating the content of the message with an appropriate tone of voice, supported by your body language. Take three to communicate your ideas effectively.

Ideas to IMPACT: Audience Attention

In the fifth video about the IMPACT process, discover some secrets about how your audience's demographics, behavior, and needs influence their level of attention to your ideas.

Flip-Flops Not Just Beach-Wear

Flip-Flops Not Just Beach-Wear

It is noted in political circles that flip-flopping (reversing your stand on an issue as it suits your audience) is a negative thing to do. When digging into the details of your idea, however, flip-flopping is a good thing! This process allow you to look at your idea from two perspectives. Here's how it works.

You take your idea and look at how the world will be when your idea is implemented. Then you take your idea and flip-flop … look at your own idea as if you are AGAINST it. What issues come up with this perspective? It's that simple.

Flip-flopping with your idea helps you to identify the counter-arguments ahead of time, and allows you to be better prepared with your answer to those counter-arguments when they arise. Flip-flops are for more than walking on the sand!

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Ideas to IMPACT: Communicate Your Message

In the 4th installment of my Ideas to IMPACT(c) video series, you'll hear how to communicate your idea effectively.

Idea Discovery: Article – 20 Ways to Come Up With Amazing Ideas

Make your IMPACT(c) … one idea at a time!
Here's my Idea Discovery for today to help you do just that.

Idea Discovery: 20 Ways to Come Up With Amazing Ideas

I came across the blog today from a young lady in Australia and it aligns with my teachings regarding the IMPACT© process.

http://www.skelliewag.org/the-top-20-ways-to-come-up-with-amazing-ideas-157.htm

You can also read her past blogs here: http://www.skelliewag.org/, where you’ll find a wealth of great blogs regarding ideas as well as creative thinking. I hope you enjoy!