Listening to Chris Brogan’s advice landed me a Sweet Deal

November 18, 2014 by Raul Colon

I have been building projects and business for over 20 years. For a bit over 12 years I have been helping others with setting up businesses or getting them ready to build one.

Although I have years of experience building my own projects I do a better job at helping other with their project.

So one person I go to for help is my buddy Chris Brogan and when he has an event or webinar I make sure I don’t miss it.

Lots of Value in Each Event

Chris usually shares a lot of knowledge that can be found accessed for free on his blog.

When Chris decides to charge for something I can guarantee you will get lots of value from it.

Last week I was able to solve a major issue in my business thanks to some knowledge I acquired on a webinar by Chris Brogan.

While listening to Chris Brogan’s webinar “Get Back on the Path” he mentioned the importance of following back.

I realized on occasions I might give up on a lead because they have not replied back. Chris mentioned how we have to offer our services continuously and increase the opportunity for us to close a sale.

Applying what I learned

I have continued following up with those who in the past I would have given up on. As a result of that I was able to either get a no or a specific date to follow up again.

The Benefits of Chris Brogan’s Webinars

Most importantly i also landed a pretty sweet deal with a one of our favorite clients thanks to that follow up.

The knowledge I gained on the last two webinars I listened from Chris will help us during what I consider my low season.

Even Though I have worked with Chris in the past and he is only an email away from any question I have.

I always learn and get hassle free advice I can apply when I watch him speak either in a live event or via a webinar.

Today, Chris is offering a webinar where he will share knowledge on how to plan for Success.

I am going to be joining him get some great insight from someone who equips owners and has been a strong business mentor of mine.

So please enroll for tomorrow’s webinar.

Will you join us?

Keep the Momentum, Keep Going

November 11, 2012 by Raul Colon

While I was running my morning 3 mile run which I run at a faster pace than my afternoon 6 mile run, I learned a valuable lesson.

As I tried to push myself in the last mile I felt disappointed that I could not accelerate more. I kept on trying to go a bit faster and I was feeling like I was pushing myself further than I should.

Keep Going

After battling with my mind to continue running I listened to my body and kept the pace I had.

Being frustrated with not being able to accelerate I almost quit the race before I reached the 3-mile mark I had set for myself.

Evaluating my Progress

Once I finished my run I realized the main reason why I could not go faster was that I had run at the fastest pace for any run including a 3-mile run in years.

I am glad I kept on pushing myself even when I felt like I had to stop and just listened to my body and not my inner demon telling me to stop.

Have you stopped at any project or effort half way. You might no have seen the results you expected at that moment. Many times it is a matter of keeping the momentum and continue moving forward.

C.C. Chapman’s in his new book Amazing Things Will Happen (← Affiliate Link) which I finished reading calls this attitude being a duck. I will explain this a bit more in my book review post.

What have you done that you later realized you did a lot better than what you expected?

Anything right now you are struggling with where you feel you need to continue moving forward to see the results?

How can I help you focus better and keep the momentum?

Visualizing the Impact Equation

October 24, 2012 by Raul Colon

A book that covers online communications and starts with the phrase:

“Ceci n’est pas un social networking book”

Is a book I definitely want to read!

Before I continue writing about this great book that helps us understand how communicate and create relationships with current emerging technologies, I want to explain that I am a big fan and admirer of Chris Brogan and Julien Smith.

I also have had the privilege to work with Chris in the past on projects for Human Business Works (My company is a Strategic Partner). I also had the privilege to finally meet Julien Smith this year at SXSW and we also tend to like the same type of shoes.

RIMG0177-1024x768 Visualizing the Impact Equation — Me & Julien Smith

Both of these individuals have taught the online communities they belong too how to create healthy relationships (business and personal).

Having read Trust Agents a few years ago, I appreciate how they continued some concepts into the current environment of online communications in 2012.

Their new book, The Impact Equation (Affiliate Link), measures how we create relationships by creating an impact in the way people see and perceive things.

Explanation of Impact

Chris and Julien explain the purpose of the book in the first pages mentioning that the Impact Equation is about considering the person at the other end of a relationship.

Considering what would make a difference to that individual who connected with an idea and how they would perceive it.

Impact Equation Formula

The formula they shared with us in the book is IMPACT = C * R * E * A * T * E.

The letters stand for Contrast, Reach, Exposure, Articulation, Trust, and Echo. I would go into explaining a bit more how each of these elements work from my perspective and how they complement each other to create Impact but it would be a much longer post.

I recommend for you to pre-order the The Impact Equation book which will give you a deeper understanding including neat exercises that will help you put what you learn into practice.

Unconventional Business Advice from Chris Brogan and Julien Smith

What resonated with me was how Julien and Chris explained their unorthodox approach at providing unconventional business advice. For those of you stuck into the Business as Usual way of doing things, feel free to skip this book. If you want to take a look at new ways of doing things, understanding how the online eco-system of business works, then I recommend you order a copy and give one away to each of those key stakeholder of the business you work in or own.

You Don’t Need Permission

When you are searching to find yourself and follow your dreams, you don’t need anyone’s permission. There is emphasis on the idea that everyone has a chance to get heard with these new business models.

Community of Wealth = Cheerleader + Mentors

It also speaks of the wealth of having a community supporting you. This motivates me to continue working as hard as I can in my own small business while having cheerleaders such as Gabriel Pagan, Margie Clayman, Chris Brogan, Rob Hatch, Mark Hayward, Robbie Vorhaus, Nando Caban, Nomar Duran and Lucilla Feliciano.

It’s about how much you are willing to work.

Using emerging technologies levels the playing field by focusing on quality, commitment, and results in order for businesses to deliver. Having money is critical but this alone will not drive your business.

On occasions I see individuals with capital to start a business but lacking drive and commitment. These new platforms of communication will help you with overcoming many obstacles if you put forth the effort and commit to them.

Staying Visible

Contrast is the Unique Selling Proposition as Chris and Julien explain it. When you become too similar you become invisible. I have spent the past year working on new business models. I try to work differently from rest of the people offering what can seem to be similar services to ours. By being different we stand out from the crowd. By being visible we increase the probability of working with customers that have similar interests to ours.

What Ideas are better Creative or Business?

Part of a chapter is dedicated to the importance of driving your business via creative and business decisions that align to your overall goals. Finding a purpose in both type of ideas will help you understand the importance in analyzing both. It also explains at a high level that each one is driven depending by the objectives you want to reach.

Visualizing the Book

I was privileged enough to get an Advanced Uncorrected Proof copy. When we look at text we might miss out on visualizing the problem that a business book is trying help you solve.

Chris and Julien had a unique way to help me visualize some ideas in the book. They created a competition, where readers took pictures of images and embedded a book quote with it.

By using textography on pictures taken with my iPhone and Camera, I was able to take a few pictures and align them to quotes in the book. I also tagged them on twitter with the Hashtag #ImpactEQ

An Experience

As with Trust Agents, Chris and Julien created an experience for their readers. The book is out this week and I can already imagine the types of experiments Chris and Julien will attempt to make the book even more functional.

So far I am very thankful for the privilege of receiving an advanced copy and getting to see first hand the great knowledge Chris and Julien have to share.

When are you ordering your copy?

Order Impact Equation Now…

Science, Rock, Reading, & Eating Well

October 19, 2012 by Raul Colon

I rarely go to local events. I spend more time reading blogs and interacting with people either at the beach or online than actually making it to a specific social gathering.

I have to find valuable reasons and connections to go out and meet-up with people these days. I love music and going to an event like El Independiente created by my friends over at Puerto Rico Indie, connects me with folks who love all types of music and can provide their perspectives on the messages the artists are conveying.

The other event is when Angiemille Latorre sends me an invite to Seriously Creative’s Pecha Kucha events. Since the event focuses on solving some of Puerto Rico’s overall issues, I want to be present to meet people doing many things for our well being.

In the first and second Pecha Kucha I attended, I took lots of notes. But on this occasion, I really wanted to absorb what was being shared. For that reason, I am sharing a quick recap of what I took away from the Pecha Kucha.

Books Politicians should read

The first Pecha Kucha, “The Bedtime Story”, was given by Dana Montenegro. Once again, he did an excellent job of setting the tone and suggesting a list of books that our future governor should read. I will put a few of them into my own reading list.

Unfit for Print

Next was Gianpaolo Pietri who presented and spoke about his platform Yasta.pr. Gianpaolo had many ideas to share with the public but the short presentation format worked against him. I did get to know more about his background as an architect, which helped me understand his presentation a bit more.

I would have liked learning a few the issues Yasta.pr is trying to resolve from the aspect of news sharing. Maybe I can catch up with Gianpaolo and get more detail into what he does in the near future.

Eat and Request Quality Food

Tara Rodriguez, Founder of El Departamento de la Comida, presented the third Pecha Kucha of the night. She gave a continuation of her TedX talk San Juan talk. She mentioned some of the efforts she is working on to make healthy food options more accessible.

One statement she made that resonated with me was how local restaurants want to give customers what THEY feel like offering not what the customer wants or needs.

The same example she provided happened to me a few days ago on my last visit to PF Changs here in San Juan. They did not want to modify one of their plates that I have asked for on many occasions into a Vegan option. After talking to the Manager on duty and the chef, they ultimately created the plate I wanted and not what they wanted to serve me.

Creating Bad Ass Scientists by Educating with Music

Ignacio Peña gave the fourth presentation called, “El Gran Debate del Planeta Tierra”. Ignacio, a Puerto Rican Musician, is using his creativity and musical talent to educate kids about science and integrating it to pop culture. He is working towards helping kids see that the real challenges come from trying to get more knowledge into our daily lives.

Ignacio wants to make sure kids understand that being bad ass is being a scientist; someone who is going to find solutions and be disruptive while reaching a goal ultimately helping others with a solution.

I also had the chance to talk to Ignacio about our Blog Papaheroes and he invited me to his event El Gran Debate de la Planeta Tierra that I will be attending thanks to an invite from the producer Simon Carillo.

Another Pecha Kucha Style Experience

Overall it was another night where I got to meet some awesome new people from a diversity of backgrounds and I hope to stay up to date on the projects they are involved in.

PS – Before I left that night I found a very harmless Ghost in one of the chalkboards in the restroom. Creativity at its best.

Vegan Ghost

Cerveza Buye Elves

October 1, 2012 by Raul Colon

This is post five on my Igniting a Revolution Series.

Different to the previous posts where I have focused on the positive side of creating a full customer experience, this time I look into the opposite side of when brands disappoint me. I touch some of the things local brands like Cerveza Buy can fix when communicating online to become more human. There is something to think about when a brand wants to stay anonymous when talking to customers.

What are they hiding?

It’s Difficult to Have Brand loyalty to Local Brands

I try my best at supporting local brands and products. The best example is how I make it to the Organic Farmer’s Markets many times a month, so I can get my fresh produce from those who work the land and are growing local food which in turn keeps more money in Puerto Rico.

When I go to a supermarket preferably Pueblo or Selectos, I try to buy the local items like Mushrooms grown in Aibonito, PR. With every visit I make, I support a local supermarket, and I buy local produce.

I see how many local brands like liquor companies such as Don Q and Medalla, share advertising that is mostly for their interests. They are not interested in creating communities or listening to those who buy their products; they just want to sell.

For years I have been trying to get Medalla Beer to reply and see if their product is Vegan-friendly. Years later, no one has responded, and I get bombarded by ads everywhere.

Cerveza Buyé and its Elves

Weeks ago when I saw a new locally made beer advertised. I saw an opportunity to start supporting local beer instead of buying my favorite Vegan-Friendly Beer Samuel Adams (Boston, MA) or Samuel Smith (England).

I sent a Facebook message via their page to the agency handling the social media account and asked if they could verify if Buyé were Vegan-friendly. After explaining to them several reasons why a Beer might not be vegan, they replied that yes their beer was vegan.

When I asked for the name of the person who provided me the answer, they responded that they were anonymous elves working in the background and could not expose their identity.

Elves = Inexperienced Agency handling social accounts

When I get these replies about being anonymous and other nonsensical comments, it usually means that Buyé as a company is not managing their online presence. They probably have an intern with the digital equivalent of a bullhorn on the other side just blasting and spamming advertisements to anyone they come across on social platforms. Given how others manage their brands, I should be glad they even responded.

Lack of Ownership of Accounts

When a company does not have its voice being communicated online and a separate firm hijacks the account with zero transparency this demonstrates that the agency does not want to be accountable and that Buyé does now own their online presence.

I can’t trust Elves

Since Buyé’s elves replied and I could not get a human, I would not dare drink a Buyé beer since I really can’t validate if they were knowledgeable enough about the product. Last year around Christmas we had another local Puerto Rican elf get some YouTube fame and based on his behavior, I rather continue to recommend Sam Adams and Samuel Smith to my Vegan friends.

Consumers don’t talk with Elves

It is critical that you have a human or core group with product knowledge when it comes to representing your brands.

Brands such as Jetblue, Samsung, Dell, and many others have humans behind them who are accountable for what is shared online. Even Pepboys uses an Agency, and they are very transparent. I got to talk to a human when I had an issue with Pepboys and not a fictional character.

Like many of you, I am not a fan of talking into answering machines much less talking to fictional characters like elves.

Take charge of your presence; let those interested in your products know some humans care behind your brand and products. But most importantly, that those people care about creating community.

Until Buyé realizes it’s critical for a brand to care about the reasonable consumer its Samuel Adams and Sam Smith for me. Cheers…