T (Target): Why Tweet?
W (Write): Why You Should Tweet Like Kanye
E (Engage): Tools to Win
E (Explore): Finding Everybody, and Bringing Everybody to You
T (Track): Making Sure You’ve Hit You’re Mark

Claire believes that “it is not the obligation of an organization to engage in social change, but rather the opportunity an organization has to innovate in extraordinary ways, with this unique real-time information network.”  I love Claire’s perspective that social media can not only be a tool for non-profit organizations and “change the world” causes, but that it provides an opportunity for more to engage and respond.  This book is an advocate for strategic tweets.  Especially the ones that matter.

What else have I read during my yearlong reading project?
–> Week 1  –> Week 2  –> Week 3  –> Week 4  –> Week 5  –> Week 6   –> Week 7

Listening to Peter talk about role models and mentors got me thinking about the importance of our surroundings.  I think most would agree that who you surround yourself with matters – in life, in relationships, and especially as an entrepreneur striving for motivation, significance, and effectiveness.

The importance of surroundings is at the core of what makes thinkspace more than just office space, but a community.  Just yesterday, I gave a tour to some guys that are launching a new product and are looking for somewhere to work (other than a coffee shop).  As we chatted in the kitchen of the coworking floor, these two guys expressed to me how they are eager to find a place where they can be surrounded (there’s that word again!) and inspired by other entrepreneurs.  And not surprisingly, the questions that they asked me about thinkspace had nothing to do with price points, but more to do with what kind of community thinkspace is.

Q: “What kinds of people will I run into at thinkspace?”

A: “Thinkspace represents a wide variety of different people and companies – tech startups, CPA and lawyer firms, videographers, SEO gurus, sales, marketing firms, counselors, and there’s even a pastor on the second floor.”

Q: “What are the benefits of being at thinkspace, in the coworking community?”

A: “I can best explain that in a story…I was talking with a coworker the other day, and he mentioned to me that he knew coworking at thinkspace would be a good fit for him because of the flexible plan and the quality space.  But he was surprised by the community that it’s provided him with – which is a huge value-add to him, as well as his company.  At thinkspace, you’ll be surrounded and inspired by innovators and entrepreneurs.  You could work at home, or in a coffee shop, and try to conjure up inspiration on your own.  Or you can hang out in coworking for a few moments, and hear about the amazing things that the entrepreneurs in this community are up to, and share in their energy and motivation.”

Peter Chee spoke about the need for mentors and role models.  And whenever I walk through coworking, I see these roles being established.  One thing that I’ve come to expect whenever I’m at thinkspace: the opportunity to learn something new.  And I love that.  I don’t care that I’m no where near the smartest person in the room.  At the end of Peter’s presentation, he shared something similar about what drives him: “I’m constantly learning, so I’m just absorbing.  If you’re the smartest person in the room, than you’re probably in the wrong room.  I’m always surrounded by people that are smarter than me.”

So who do you surround yourself with?

And are you in need of a mentor or role model?  Thinkspace has recently launched the CXO program, which offers office hours with experts in their field.  Want to know more?  Find more information here.

This week I read a children’s book to my nephews, Cooper (age 4) and Jack (age 2): Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney.  The book is one of their favorites, and the first time Cooper had it read to him, a certain someone was a bit too dramatic in their storytelling made him cry (lesson learned).

Here’s why I love (and recommend) this book:

1) The book rhymes (but not in an annoying way).

2) The book teaches a valuable lesson (be patient with your parents).

3) It’s a perfect “quick read” before they go to bed (translation: this book can be read in 5 minutes, so if your nephews are asking you for one more book after the five you’ve just read them, you can say “Okay, we’ll read Llama Llama Red Pajama, but THEN you’re going to bed. Deal?” You get what I mean.).

What else have I read during my yearlong reading project?
–> Week 1  –> Week 2  –> Week 3  –> Week 4  –> Week 5  –> Week 6 

This is exciting because who wouldn’t want to live the technologically advanced life of Tom Cruise in Minority Report?

But among the excitement, there are also some concerns regarding the reprocussions of global connectivity.  Schmidt and Cohen offer solutions as they observe the challenges that arise within our future’s connectivity.  And while much of the book’s content is technology, the book is geared towards humans: “This is not a book about gadgets, smart-phone apps or artificial intelligence, though each of these subjects will be discussed.  This is a book about technology, but even more it’s a book about humans, and how humans interact with, implement, adapt to and exploit technologies in their environment, now and in the future, throughout the world.” 

Should you read this book?  Yup.  Two thumbs up.

What else have I read during my yearlong reading project?
–> Week 1  –> Week 2  –> Week 3  –> Week 4  –> Week 5

Since then, thinkspace has been – and continues to be – home to many startups and established businesses.

Upon starting thinkspace, Peter Chee understood that if he took a conventional path, he could expect conventional results.  But from the very beginning, thinkspace has been anything but conventional.

Shortly after thinkspace opened, the recession hit.  Peter was left with a decision to make: would he keep his rates competitive, and in doing so head out on a race to the bottom?  Peter recalls making that decision, “The race to the bottom is about cutting corners, and how far I can stretch this thing or person…”  That wasn’t the way Peter set out to do business, nor was it the way he wanted to respond to the recession.  Instead, he was inspired by Seth Godin: “Consumers are not loyal to cheap commodities, they crave the unique, the remarkable, the human.”

In the moment while other competitors were trying to stay afloat by cutting costs and offering discounts, Peter asked “How can we make thinkspace remarkable?” and responded not by cutting costs, but focusing on creating value within the thinkspace community.

Thinkspace was born during an against-the-odds era.  But thinkspace not only survived the recession, but has thrived due to the vision of value and relationships.  From the beginning, Peter stated, “I want to focus on making connections with people, because that’s where the value is…if you can actually connect with people, they will be more likely to do business with you.”

Thinkspace’s 5th birthday isn’t about celebrating Peter, but about celebrating the members that we are grateful to be in community with – each and every one of you makes this place remarkable.  Without you, thinkspace would be an empty building and an empty community.  So, here’s to you!  

To say “thank you,” each team member at thinkspace has brought in their favorite goodie and treat.  Please stop by the front desk today to say hi and indulge in some edible-gratitude.  

One Thousand Gifts is a journal of Ann’s journey and transition from ingratitude to gratitude.  Ann challenges herself by asking “Could I write a list of a thousand things I love?…one thousand gifts…not the gifts I want but of gifts I already have.”  What follows is a record of the gifts that Ann discovers, as she defeats ingratitude with gratefulness:

#1. Morning shadow across the old floors
#38. Wool sweaters with turtleneck collars
#118. Crackle in fireplace
#526. New toothbrushes
#904. First frost’s crunch

Ann’s perspective on seeing gifts in even the smallest of things has challenged me to be more thankful, and begin my own list of one thousand gifts.  Maintaining a posture of gratitude is a discipline and a journey.

What else have I read during my yearlong reading project?
–> Week 1  –> Week 2  –> Week 3  –> Week 4

Does this sound like you?

I’m all for perfection and doing your best… but you can’t noodle away at something forever.
You must get your idea out to the world.
If you’re even thinking about launching that means you’re creating this for other people.
What’s the point to all the work you’re doing, if no one’s going to benefit from it?

So – what I do when I’m nearing the due date I’ve set to complete a project… is start listing off the CBBs.  What “Could Be Better”?  I make a list of CBBs and just keep moving forward.

Here’s the secret too for all you who will still want to wait until things are perfect – there will ALWAYS be CBBs.  Even if you don’t see them now.  I can’t think of one launch I’ve worked on, finished for myself, or helped someone else plan where there wasn’t a list of CBBs for the next launch.

CBB is one of those little phrases that helps take the pressure off – so start saying it when you find something that could be a little bit better, but you don’t want it to stop you from making progress or from launching.

No webinar? CBB – I’ll do one next time when my list is bigger.
No launch videos? CBB – my audience is used to blog posts anyways.
No affiliate program? CBB – I’ll do something super bare bones this time around and set up a real program for the next time.
No membership site? CBB – I’ll make a protected page on my site where all the content will live.
My PDFs aren’t super gorgeous! CBB – The content is there, I’ll make them look neat, easy to read and they’ll be fine.

It’s catchy…
You might find yourself declaring, “That’s a CBB for sure!” to things that used to have you adjusting your entire launch schedule.

Try it!

Go through your own launch materials, your program, your copy, your sales process and start making your CBB list for the next launch.

And – if you want to learn more about what’s important and what’s NOT important to launch…I’ll be teaching a live 1-hour workshop at thinkspace THIS WEEK to show you how to plan and schedule your next launch – so those CBBs don’t weigh you down!

Launch Exhaustion: How to schedule a year of launches without exhausting yourself, your audience, or your team.

Click here for more information and to attend

We can always find greener grass than the grass we’re standing on.

But instead of getting caught up in comparison-mode, re-route your perspective back to yourself.

Pining for another person’s green “grass” (someone else’s life, career, marriage, etc) will work the opposite way you want it to.  Instead of focusing on the condition of your own grass, you’re wasting time wishing you had someone else’s.

Maybe the grass IS greener on the other side.
But, so what?
Instead of being jealous or threatened by greener grass, see it as an invitation to water the grass you’re standing on.  If someone has an amazing job, be inspired to lean in and set a goal to earn a promotion.  If someone has the “perfect marriage,” figure out ways to work on your own marriage (the #staymarried blog is a great resource).

The secret to a better life isn’t seeing how you size up to someone else’s life (and thank you Facebook for making this all-too-easy).  The secret to a better life is self-awareness…and knowing what fertilizer you need in order to be fruitful and productive.

Tony Robbins

In September 2009, I was really fortunate to be able to attend the Twitter Conference in Los Angeles. At that conference I got to hear the keynote given by Tony Robbins. It stands as one of the top 10 best moving speeches I’ve heard in my life.

The Quality of Your Life is the Quality of Your Relationships

During Tony’s presentation he said “If you’re a business person you can look at your business. You can look at your employees, you can look at their Tweets and within a few minutes you can see how they think. Are they emotionally driven? Spiritually driven? Financially driven? Are they people that are building people up? Tearing them down? You can quickly know what they are about and you now know how to serve them. Twitter shows you a persons blueprint really quickly. Some of you it’s all business, all relationships, spirituality, money, there’s not that many things in life.”

“The quality of your life is the quality of your relationships, because, that is where emotions are most magnified.” – Tony Robbins

Lesson Learned:

In the start-up world, I feel like I’ve seen it all. Some of it first hand, other times observing from the sideline. Founders firing their co-founder. Founders firing their first employee. Employees quitting in batches. Relationships being discarded left and right.

Over the years I’ve had my fair share of goodbyes. Some of these goodbyes were initiated by me, some by others. It is painful to say goodbye when I have to fire someone. It sucks when people you invest in — quit you. The thing I’ve come to peace with is that I want to be with people that “want to” be with me. I recognize each of us are on our own journey, our paths cross and are aligned, then sometimes the path diverges. So the lesson is, don’t be so hard on yourself. Forgive yourself and extend more grace to others.

Alternate Lesson:

“Do what you did in the beginning of the relationship at the end and there won’t be an end.” – Tony Robbins

When relationships break – here’s something to consider… “There’s no weakness in forgiveness” – Annie Vander Pol (Director, Social Evangelist) wrote an amazing blog post that might shift your perspective.

5 Years Lessons Learned

I’ve made tons of mistakes over the last five years since starting up thinkspace. These are some *highlights* of the mistakes and lessons learned along the way. Thanks for being a part of the journey!

I decided to start with a book that gets referenced a lot at thinkspace: Linchpin.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a linchpin as “one that serves to hold together the parts or elements that exist or function as a unit.”

In his book, Linchpin, Seth Godin defines a linchpin as someone who is indispensable.

Godin challenges the old mindset of thinking that there are two divisions of labor in the workforce – management and workers.  Linchpin argues that a new team has risen: those who are innovators, leaders (regardless of hierarchy and position), and those who are not easily replaced – the linchpins.

Godin reflects on this new arising team, “Every day I meet people who have so much to give but have been bullied enough or frightened enough to hold it back.  It’s time to stop complying with the system and draw your own map.  you have brilliance in you, your contribution is essential, and the art you create is precious.  Only you can do it, and you must.” 

I know that I’m biased, but it is so amazing to work in a community like thinkspace where I daily meet and interact with these so-called linchpins.  Being surrounded by like-minded, creative innovators is inspiring and drives me to be indispensable as well.

What else have I read during my yearlong reading project?
–> Week 1  –> Week 2  –> Week 3