body language and messaging
February 8, 2010
A challenge:
Try to sit around a conference table and not form meaningless boxes with your hands while speaking.
Brian Patrick Cork
thinking inside the Box
February 3, 2010
We were asked: “What is thinking ‘inside the box”?
We hear so much about thinking “outside the box” that it apparently made the questioner wonder if going back into the box might not be a wise thing these days. They suggested that it might ”just be less crowded. Or maybe not.”
My own immediate thought is that we need to focus on core objectives relative to goals.
So, whereas “outside the box” allows for broader thinking – and, suggests open-mindedness, “inside the box” might signal that we have opened the box, come up with a great idea, and are now implementing a plan of action to execute.
This has equal applications in both business, and life inside and outside of business (sometimes there is a difference).
That’s just me thinking. I tend to do that, sometimes, more than many people care to know.
However, I do think much of this offers an insight to the views of the Heterodox.
Brian Patrick Cork
transparency in business (at work)
January 25, 2010
The advent of Social Networking, and it’s associated media is a veritable, if only, a potential Pandora’s Box.
Just read the string from LinkedIN. It’s fair and uncensored.
Brian Cork wrote:
I don’t think so. And, I gave your argument a fair amount of consideration (thus the belated response).
The LinkedIN question was genuine in our efforts to make a real point, and then pivot off of it to position the query.
I fully understand that the social media Gods befuddle most folks. That hearty list would not include the inestimable Matt Rosenhaft, but we’ll always have the opportunity to address him fully at some other date. Yes, we could!
My personal – and, mind you, not the business Blog, gets a lot of attention. And, I don’t try to leverage it for business. Yet, it finds it’s way to our doors nonetheless. My CFO says it could well now account for close to thirty percent (30%) of our new business. We are hovering at $17mm, and have remained constant regardless of the alleged recession. and, that Ms. Paul is due to the referrals-only model that we are fiercely proud of.
We recruit for companies that change the world. And, for many years I raised money for their founders. Today, I coach leaders that you read about (and, others you just might eventually read about). But, we carefully side-stepped those points in that doomed LinkedIN question. Because, had we made a big deal of those facts, we might then, and in our far from humble opinions, only then, have come across as promoting our own services. The true objective was to determine what other leaders were doing with Blogs. It’s that simple. And what poor little Amit tried to do with his Answer was blatant promotion – and, as a “marketer”, you surely must recognize that. Had he at least, in the least, I say again, attempted to offer an example of how his product might work for leaders relative to my question, we in all likelihood, would not be having this exchange.
Although this exchange as inspired another line of thinking: “Do startup and emerging culture CEO’s have an advantage over their larger company peers from a ‘disruptive’ standpoint?”
This from: Are we truly in the midst of the era of the entrepreneur?
In closing, and I’ll have not more of this, please stay in touch.
Cork
On 09/18/09 3:45 PM, Rebekah Paul wrote:
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Brian,
Everyone on LinkedIn and everyone in the social media space is trying to figure out how to market without coming off as sounding as though they are selling. Although it sounds like you truly believe you weren’t doing this, it comes off that way. If you had simply asked “I want to know what other leaders are doing with blogs” and left it up to the individual to enter your profile and click through to your blog, that would have been a better approach.
Best,
Rebekah
On 09/18/09 3:31 PM, Brian Cork wrote:
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That’s part of my point. We don’t advertise or market. We’ve made Inc. 500 twice and I was named Catalyst 25 twice with no pushing.
We get A LOT of referrals. And, now we are getting action off of my Blog.
Me aside, I want to know what other leaders are doing with Blogs. So, Amit bugged me when he jumped in with a plug for a product other than what I was seeking information over.
You seem like a good sort Rebekah. But, with this response from me in mind, I feel like I was blind-sided.
No hard feelings, though. Life is charmed.
Cork
On 09/18/09 12:54 PM, Rebekah Paul wrote:
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Ah, come on. You can’t out-market another marketer. 
You didn’t have to mention your blog when you posited the question.
On 09/18/09 12:51 PM, Brian Cork wrote:
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Mine’s an example, Rebekah. No promotion is required.
Cork
On 09/18/09 12:49 PM, Rebekah Paul wrote:
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I find it interesting that you said “Please, no advertising or self-prommoting, like Amit.” when that’s exactly what you’re doing to promote your blog. Granted, it’s rather veiled but still.
Question Details:
——————–
How valuable, in terms of developing new business, are CEO’s finding company Blogs?
Our business model reflects referrals-only. We don’t advertise nor market ourselves. But, it looks like we are seeing roughly 30% of our new business coming from my personal Blog: www.theunsinkablebriancork.com.
Along this line of thinking… When coaching executives I am recommending they Blog regularly to establish Subject Matter Expertise (SME). In addition to this, while recruiting for a wide-range of companies, decision-makers (for example Board of Directors) are inquiring around candidates and their Blogs – again, seeking Subject Matter Expertise for credibility.
From a marketing perspective, I am curious how valuable leaders in business are finding Blogging.
Brian Patrick Cork
On 9/18/09 11:51 AM, Brian Cork added the following clarification:
Please, no advertising or self-prommoting, like Amit.
