Featured Video: The Beautiful Painted People of Omo
October 31, 2009
The beauty of creation embodied in people of the Omo River in Ethiopia. May we always remember our true nature.
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Cut the Crap & Dare To Be Yourself
October 29, 2009
Schmaltz: Yiddish, shmalts - literally, rendered fat
In my humble but large opinion there is too much schmaltziness in this world and not enough realness. So many people are trying too hard to be experts and guru’s. They are trying to stand out in the crowd and be known, but that is exactly what will make you obsolete very quickly.
Schmaltizness is not what we need now. We live in a world in which time is is speeding up. What we need is not to follow the crowd and do what we’ve always done, but to stand out in the crowd and dare to do doing something different.
Let this begin with you. Dare to take off the mask that you wear because you fear won’t like you if you are yourself. The truth is that many people won’t like you no matter what you do. So give that up as your goal and work instead to be genuine.
Try this in your conversations, your blog posts, even your marketing materials. Yes I’m suggesting that you cut the crap and dare to be real.
Honestly, it’s not easy. The brain and nervous system are wired with a deeply ingrained circuitry that being different will get us killed. The archaic part of the brain perceives difference as a life or death matter. It’s part of the ancient law of the tribe. So to live a full, real life, you have to override that ancient impulse and go in the direction of real life. That is where all the meaning and the juice are anyway.
Be aware that when you begin to do this you may feel scared. You will feel scared in the beginning, scared all the way through and maybe even afterwards. But this is normal. Think of the experience of a roller coaster ride. Personally I feel fear the entire way through. But that doesn’t have to stop you. You’ve got to BE FIERCE to cut through the crap. It doesn’t come easily.
But consider the benefits of really truly, genuinely being yourself. Here are a few of mine, please let me know about yours:
Benefits of Daring To Cut The Crap and Be Yourself:
- You make genuine honest connections with people.
- People come to love you for who you are.
- Those that don’t will naturally drift away and that is good.
- You will be happier and sleep more easily because genuineness is good for your peace of mind.
Today I had an inspiring conversation with my fellow Trainer and Coach, Eva Reiff of Nurnberg, Germany. Eva and I have coached each other every week for over eight years, amazing!
We support and encourage each other to continue to live big and dare to do things that seem scary, uncomfortable or even impossible. And together we have gone much further than we ever imagined.
After our talk today Eva sent me this beautiful note:
I am so amazed at how you have decided to cut through the crap and just be raw and real in the world. I admire your courage to lead the way and to follow what you sense the world needs. You care about real connections, and you use that as a filter to everything. You are ahead of your time. 
Today be fierce in your intent to be honest, real, vulnerable, scared, on-the-edge. Dare to be yourself and live out of the box. You will be glad you did. And besides, you have nothing to lost but your schmaltz, which I’m pretty sure you’d like to give up anyway!
Let this be your motto:
I am willing to cut the crap and dare to be myself!
Let me know how it goes.
Oh and by the way, I dare to tell stories raw and real because I’m pretty sure that’s what the world needs.
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Adding Excitement to Your Blog; Communicating in Person
October 28, 2009
From Annie: This is a wonderful post written by my friend Jeannette Paladino of Write, Speak, Sell. She is an expert in all forms of written communication. I love her take on making communication more personal.
I was just trolling through the blog of my friend Annie Hart and I realized how exciting her blog is. She uses video extensively and her writing is fresh and appealing.
Granted, she promotes story telling as a distinctive means of communication so it makes sense to see her in action. But, I thought, don’t people want to see me in action, too, even though I have a much more focused business blog?
That got me to thinking that we’ve all become too attuned, maybe, to communicating through IPhones, Blackberries and online. We don’t have enough personal interaction.
I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve almost been run over on the sidewalks of New York City by a person looking down, totally engrossed in her PDA. And in New York it’s not easy to become oblivious to the throngs of pedestrian traffic.
But that’s what we’re doing – tuning out the personal interaction.
I was sitting in coffee shop the other day and four young women were eating at the next table. Not a word was being spoken as they all exercised their thumbs text messaging, surfing the Internet and playing games.
I honestly find this all a bit scary. As bloggers, we need to figure out ways to add the human touch to our blogs. How about doing a video introduction of your next guest blogger, even though he may be writing a blog and not doing a video or podcast? Or what about a video of yourself on your “About” page discussing your credentials, your goals, your business and your values?
Mind you, I’m somewhat like the cobbler with a hole in her shoes. I haven’t done all this yet, but I do know I need to get more of me in my blog. Annie is going to help me figure it out.
Annie: Jeannette you make a great point. The power of real life personal communication is a precious commodity that we must preserve. And yes we’ll get your blog looking great!
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Tackling Technology: Tips From A Former Technophobe
October 28, 2009
From Annie:
This week I wrote an article for my local paper in which I shared the story of my business success using blogging and social media. Wow, I would never have predicted that I would be a person to to overcome my fears of technology and go so far. But thanks to Bea Fields and her wonderful blogging course, I am more than happy to share this story.
From Bea Fields:
Less than 10 months ago, Annie Hart dug her heels in and told her friend Jeff Simpkins …”No way will I ever want to blog…I can’t do that.”
She then caved into peer pressure from Jeff (Jeff is a super salesman!) and signed up for the Become a Blogging Maniac program.
Not only has she become a a blogging maniac, she is now actually speaking to and teaching others in her local community about blogging and the use of technology as tools to reach a wider audience. And, she is being sought out by others for her storytelling expertise and is in the early stages of writing a book…wow…what a transformation!
So, Annie is now being sought out by the media for her story on being a former technophobe who is now a techno-wonder kid! Here you go…an article in the Chestnut Hill Local in Philadelphia, PA by the title of Tackling Technology: Tips from A Former Technophobe by Annie Hart. Congrats Annie!
If Annie can do this, so can you!
From Annie: My success was so surprising and unexpected and I feel committed to helping others overcome their fears of technology as well. I plan to write several more articles for my local paper and even launch an initiative to help my community work together for our collective business success. I hope my story inspires you to know what’s possible in your business. Feel free to contact me.
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Featured Story: An Unlikely Love Story
October 26, 2009
Want to feel your heart get warm as you witness true love right before your eyes? This is a most beautiful love story told in pictures. Thanks to my friend Patti for this touching story.
This is Suryia the orangutan and Roscoe the Blue Tick hound.
The orangutan was in a rescue mission, depressed and not doing well.
The old hound wandered in and the orangutan snapped to as if his buddy had arrived.
He stayed with the hound night and day until he was well.
In the whole scenario, the orangutan found a reason to live.
They are now inseparable, live at the Tigers sanctuary in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
AWWWW! It’s never too late to find true love.
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Featured Video: Think Differently
October 26, 2009
Here’s to the the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the trouble makers, the round pegs in the square holes, the ones that see things differently. This video is an inspiring tribute to those who dare to do things differently. “Those that think they are crazy enough to change the world, are the ones who do!”
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Lead the Way With Story: Creating Trust & Credibility
October 25, 2009
Storytelling, definition by Annie Hart
An effective and congruent communication that embodies your commitment, your beliefs, your values and your vision.
This is part of a series on the use of storytelling in leadership. Leaders need to inspire and motivate others. They need to help people get along, collaborate and go where they haven’t been before. Nothing does this more effectively than the power of story.
Although the word story means many things to me, for the purposes of leadership, I’m going to give it the above definition, so that it will show you exactly how you create connection through story. To illustrate this effectively, I need to tell you a story.
Several years ago I was giving a presentation to a small family business that was not my typical client. One of the owners was a private client of mine who really benefited from my work and she wanted me to do some consulting for them. But I was pretty sure that the rest of the company wouldn’t see me as a natural fit and might not want to hire me.
So what did I do? The first step to building a connection is to get inside someone else’s story to find out how they think, believe and act. To do this I asked myself the question, What goes on inside of their world? This is how you discover the daily problems, frustrations and mindsets of whomever you want to communicate with.
The key to this is to do it from the mindset of sharing and the intention to build connection. When you begin by relating to our common human problems, then we start on the same page.
In business the number one priority is often the famous ‘bottom line’. But the key to a sustainable business is actually not the bottom line at all. People are the most important commodity of any successful venture.
As a leader, relationships should be of prime importance. If not then everything else will go downhill. The bottom line of is not and can never be number one,. Taking care of people comes first.
So by the time I went to give my presentation, I had already put myself in the mindset of the people that I was speaking to. I walked into a group of people that looked harried, distracted and uninterested, but I was prepared for this. So I started by telling them their own story.
I introduced myself briefly and then told them that I would be right back, and I walked out of the room. I returned minutes later, rushing in with a briefcase spilling papers and frantically talking on a cell phone.
I began my presentation all over again, but this time I was speaking at breakneck speed. “Hi I’m Annie Hart and I’m here to….” But imagine this with words flying at 500 miles an hour!
When I looked up they were speechless. Maybe dumbfounded is a better word. I paused and looked at them carefully. I asked, “What was that like for you?’
“That’s exactly like our daily lives!” they said. They couldn’t believe that I got them. I said, “How did it feel to experience me that way?” They unanimously said, “It was awful, very stressful and anxiety producing.” Exactly. Exactly like their daily lives.
This dramatic enactment of their everyday way of being, opened up a discussion of trust and openness, whereas just moments before they had considered me a complete stranger. So how did they accept me so quickly?
I used the power of story, THEIR STORY, to speak their language.
The key to rapport and building connection is to think about others. Ask yourself, what do they need? What are they going through? What are their daily lives like?
It’s not how can I get them to do what I want? It’s how can I understand who they are? This is one of the key skills a leader can have.
Each of you in your own way is a leader. Start today to think how you can get inside the story of others, so that people will want to follow you where ever you go.
And if you’re wondering if I got hired? The answer is yes, and continued to tell stories and build rapport for an entire year. Storytelling is a key to building trust and credibility through creating connection.
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We Blog, Therefore We Are - Our Top 4 1/2 Reasons to Blog
October 23, 2009
This is a joint blog post by elizabeth cassidy & Annie Hart, Blogging Maniacs who share the power of story through blogging:
Once upon a time, people wrote letters, peeled a stamp off their tongues and recited a silent prayer, hoping that their words would make it across the world or town. While man wrote on cave walls and woman doused her love letters in cheap perfume, it was inevitable that one day all this would pass away.
In its wake arose a way to communicate in a nanosecond, with your friends, family and the world at large. I don’t know if you got the announcement, but your computer gave birth to a weblog in 1998. They call it a blog for short. It’s a family name.
Below are some of the reasons why you should be blogging. Read them now.
Reason Number One: (from Annie) First of all, we Ole’ Folks need to get hip. We want to be part of the wave of the future, not left back in the dust with the dinosaurs right? It’s embarrassing to think that Tweeting is just what birds do. If you’re over forty or fifty in my case and you’re freaked out by blogging, then I suggest you read a book, take a course or call me or elizabeth. We’ll convince you that you can do it. God knows if we can do it, you can do it.
Reason Number Two: (from elizabeth) We all have thoughts and opinions on what is going on in our lives, our neighbor’s lives and the world at large. So let us know how global warming, mixing plaids with strips or how the political scene is shaping up or destroying your world. Pick a subject that keeps you up at night and blog about it. When you write with passion, the world will beat a path to your door.
Ok they may knock at first, but people will come back for more when you tell us what you think, why you think it and how you plan on enlightening us in the future. Not a heavy thinker and have been known to crack a joke or two at the wrong time - like science class or in the middle of performing an emergency appendectomy? Then write a blog that will make people laugh and let your readers stumble upon it, follow or share it, tweet it with everyone they know. Just write your blog as if the world depended on your voice getting out there. And some days, you never know, it just might.
Reason Number Three: (from Annie) Blogging is one of the hip tools of today. Ok, so I know the word hip is dating me, but honestly it’s really cool to be a blogger. You can look smart and savvy right from the comfort of your own home. But while you’re at it, (for women) get rid of those platform shoes that are in your closet and (for men) get rid of that leisure suit that you are never going to wear. If you’re going to blog, you at least need to look decent.
Reason Number Four: (from elizabeth) You are blogging up a storm and you are getting a following without starting a cult. It feels great to have people clinging to your every word and your mother is thrilled to see how many people are leaving comments. But you just keep blogging and you forget to respond to the people who take the time to praise or scorn you. You remind us of those guys who promised to call but never did.
After a while, you just start to fade from their collective memories and you are blogging to yourself. Do take the time to respond to those who take the time to let you know that you impacted their lives. Start a conversation and give people a platform to be heard. More than likely someone will say something brilliant and viola’ – you got yourself a new blog.
Reason Number Four 1/2: (from both of us) It’s fun. Honest. Once you get over the hump, you’ll actually enjoy it. We promise.
Thanks to my friend elizabeth for her fun and humor.
elizabeth cassidy is a certified life and career coach for women who are looking to reach and surpass their dreams. She is the founder of Branching Out Life Coaching and the Co-Creator/Founder of Coaches on the Edge - a blog that mixes wit and wisdom with life coaching. Along with her blogging partner, Laurie Lawson, they are national bloggers for Skirt! and their blogs have been featured on USA Today.com, Daylife.com, Treehugger,com and the India Times. You can enjoy elizabeth’s own thought provoking and amusing blog here.
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Corey’s Story Journey: Annie Hart Strikes Again
October 22, 2009
After our morning call with Katie, Annie reached out to talk privately with me to check in and see if there was some unresolved tension from last week.
I admitted that last night I had gotten nervous about our call today because I’m starting to feel how these calls impact my week. With so much else in life feeling all over the place (especially my own businesses), my anxiety struck late last night and I jumped in to dictate the direction of today’s call without letting Annie in on the “why”.
I usurped her role as story guide and jumped in to lead. I was feeling like my desk was cluttered and in order to see clearly through this project, I needed to get some busy work done to free up some brain space and feel accomplished. And that’s what we did today.
Before the call though, I was unable to be honest with Annie about the why and in this follow-up she gave me an opportunity to fill her in which strengthened our rapport. 
She asked permission to check in with me in the future when she sees me struggling through something and she also asked that I give her permission to lead us through such experiences. In reality, that’s exactly what I want. I don’t want to have to lead.
In this case, I had hoped Annie would read my mind and know how hectic life was and how badly I needed a great call with the team. But alas, as good a story guide as she is, she is not a mind reader, so we both need to work on keeping the communication open and honest so we can continue to grow as we work together and nurture this message. Bravo Annie Hart. You teach me so much!
Annie’s Note: This was a crucial and tender moment for Corey and I in the story process. Rapport is the single most important factor between the storyteller and the guide. I had the sense all week that something wasn’t sitting right and I wasn’t exactly sure how to address it. I usually try to wait and see what occurs naturally, but after the call this morning things still didn’t feel right, so I called Corey.
We had a great conversation. The basis of true understanding is to really hear a person’s situation underneath of their language. Through our conversation, I got a deeper sense of where Corey is and what’s important to him. I gained a greater awareness of how to make the process easy and enjoyable for him. My main role is to look out for his emotional well-being on the journey.
We had a lovely connection and through deepening our understanding, we drew closer. Thanks Corey, for being so open.
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Corey’s Story Journey: Back on Track
October 22, 2009
Last night I shared with my story guide Annie Hart that I needed us to have a structured call today. Since our call last week I was beginning to feel a bit desperate and depressed, like we had fallen off track.
Thankfully, because I am a story guide myself, I was able to pin point that quickly and ask Annie for structure. A few weeks ago, Annie and I had created a blue print for some of the book and had yet to dive into the detailed stories in that model we had created.
So today, we did just that and the call felt incredibly successful again. There are times to be philosophical and big picture and then there are times to dive into the trenches and do the work. Today we hunkered down and did the work and that felt great.
I am at an advantage in that I could express what I was feeling and help my story guide to change direction with me. Most of my clients do not have the ability to define what they are feeling and suggest a solution. Annie pointed that out to me on today’s call and that rung immediately true with me.
I cannot emphasize enough how going through this process myself is teaching me what I put my clients through and helping me see weak spots in my past process.
Annie and Katie working together with me, I feel like we are defining a new process we can use with future clients that will yield outstanding results. Could I ask for more?
Annie’s Note: After our call, I felt something that was unresolved from last week, so I called Corey and we had a wonderful conversation which really opened things up. See next post for details.
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