(3:36 min)
Really, are you fully and totally present when you're interacting with your community on and offline? Or, are you going through the motions, fully automated and disconnected?
I ask because I was confronted with that question last week during Brendon Burchard's four day Experts Academy live event. My awesome friend Kathleen Gage invited me to attend the event as her guest and initially I was luke warm about spending four full (12-13 hour days!) at a marketing event.
I feel like I've "been there, done that". After all, I've been working and marketing on the Web since 1996.
Then, I was confronted with Brendon's outstanding level of energy, focus, attention and complete, never-wavering presence. I set aside my skepticism, sat up and started to really listen and absorb what Brendon was saying about what it takes to be an expert in your niche. He credits much of his success to his abilty to be completely present in every activity and encounter. And, I believe it after seeing him in action.
I realized I haven't been giving you the very best me for some time…I've been phoning it in, to a degree. And that makes me feel awful.
While I've been focused and determined to teach and show you how to build a "presence" on the Web, I don't think I've been 100% present with my passion or enthusiasm for why I think this is so critical for you and the success of your business.
I don't think I've conveyed how much I care that you get your transformational message out to the world.
Brendon Burchard operates at a level of energy that is mind-boggling. While that's not my style, I'm pretty sure I can amp it up and that's what I aim to do in my service to you.
I'm commited to my mission to help you and other entrepreneurs boost your visibility on the web so you can reach more people with your message. My pledge is to give my full attention, passion and focus when I'm mentoring, writing, teaching, and networking. If you feel that I'm phoning it, then I invite you to gently tap me on the shoulder and whisper in my ear "Presence" to bring me back to the moment.
When you assess your presence on the Web, does it convey your passion and energy for your work and your community? If not, let me know how I can help you get there and together, let's amplify our presence so we can serve more people!
I invite you to share your thoughts and rituals around staying present with your clients, colleagues, prospects, and others in your life. I'm curious about how you maintain presence.
Thanks for the resources, Chase. And thanks for sharing your presence process…good tip for staying focused.
Denise I appreciate the honesty in your post. Fall down 8 times, get back up 9. Following my 11 year old son’s relentless academic example, listing to and watching inspiring youtube videos form those I admire, following honest practitioners like you and making an real attempt to help others gives me the energy to stay engaged.
My “why” has to be bigger than me….
– John Easton
John, thanks for stopping by and sharing how you stay present. Totally agree about the “why” needing to be bigger than self….blog on!
“I’m curious about how you maintain presence”
I do it the “old fashioned” way, Denise — I give my full attention to ONE thing at a time — one conversation at a time, one person at a time, one problem at a time, one project at a time. You get the idea.
And, believe me, there’s a tradeoff in the way I maintain presence. I’m a “solo”-preneur who’s flying solo. That is, I’m the whole enchilada! I decided a long time ago it was going to take me ten times longer than the next guy to build my business and that’s okay.
I prefer to be “present” for people when they reach out to me in lieu of shining them on because I have a blog post to write or a landing page to create, etc.
For me, effectively maintaining a “presence” is all about (willingly) making a lot of sacrifices.
It’s very important to me (and I think the payoff will be much greater in the end) to give 100% of myself to anything I’m involved in or helping with at the moment (online or offline).
(Please keep in mind I also work three part time jobs offline.)
For example …
The goal for creating a presence online is, in essence, to be “seen everywhere”, right? Become recognizable, in other words.
So I’ll spend hours every day reading blogs and posting comments as well as joining in group discussions on LinkedIn to “boost” my presence. And sometimes I’m doing that at 3:00 o’clock in the morning!
Could I spend those hours creating an info product instead? Or writing a book? Or any other self-serving activity? Yes, I could. But I choose to make creating and maintaining a “presence” online my highest priority.
Beautiful post!
Melanie
Melanie, you are an ispiration! To work 3 jobs AND maintain the very personal engagement you demonstrate online, really requires the utmost in presence. You are a model for all. Blog on!
Many thanks, Denise — means a lot to me. 🙂
In a nutshell …
Being “present”, in my estimation, means “showing up” — showing up in a way that’s responsive, genuinely caring (at times, empathetic), and totally transparent.
I just thought of a motto for maintaining “presence” (It’s okay if you think I’m nuts. It’s Friday. And Friday connotes Fun) 🙂
“Talk to anybody who’s listening — and listen to anybody who’s talking”
That’s how you do it!
Love it, Melanie!
Thanks so much for sharing. Unfortunately, I had a personal loss and was unable to attend, but I have been so excited being coached by Brendon for these past few months and seeing his commitment to his craft. You possess that same commitment. I would have loved to have met you and Kathleen. This time has me definitely reflecting about my message and my mission. Glad to see that others are ready to amp it up and convey passion beyond the usual. We all could use some spectacular more often. You rock!
I’m sorry for your personal loss, Shawn. Are you in Brendon’s Empire Mastermind Group? No doubt there will be other opportunities for our paths to cross…blog on!
Denise, thank you for a great post. While I wasn’t (unfortunately for me!) at the event, I resonate with the reminder. It is too easy to get caught up in doing the same things over and over, without being connected to our passions and priorities. It’s the flip side, I think, of being really good at something. You practice and practice and then can do it with your eyes closed. But, as you note- that lacks in passion and juice. I can’t wait to experience the even more passionate and brilliant you!
Rachna, I’m counting on you to be one of the people who reminds me when you sense I’m going off course! I appreciate your comment.
Hi Denise, I too was at Brendon’s event last weekend and yes it was incredible! It was so full of important things I hadn’t thought about earlier and a recap of things I new but hadn’t put into action. Being 100% present is a great reminder and something I try to do most of the time but…. Thank you for being so open and honest! Remember this is YOUR time! haha
Thank you, Pattie. What was your biggest take-away from the event?
Denise, i’ve taken Brendon Burchard’s Expert Academy training and i know what you mean about Brendon’s energy and ability to re-awaken the highest parts of ourselves. I’ve only been following you for a short period; but from the comments I read and the couple of weeks of reading your blogs, i’m very happy with being one of your subscribers. Talk about phoning it in, I haven’t even found the phone booth yet…Brendon would be appalled….I need to re-watch a Brendon video to “re-jucify” myself. Thanks for your honest sharing.
Thanks for your comment, Lonnie and for your honesty as well. No time like the present to grab that phone! 🙂
Great one Denise! Yes indeed it is that focused presence that means so much. And then there is practice, practice, practice!! Thank you for this very frank and open discussion. Makes us all look at where we are and how important it is to re-evaluate frequently. I’ve never felt anything but deep caring and compassion from you! When we’re working together, I really feel that there isn’t anyone else but me!
I’m glad you feel that way, Francie. I treasure our working relationship and our friendship. Thanks for you feedback.
Ditto to Andrea and Cheryl — I have always felt that your passion and caring come through, but this post reminds us that no matter how high you are on the Expert Spectrum, there’s always something new to learn and be inspired by. Thank you for your willingness to share your perceived weaknesses as well as your strengths. The fact that you’ve achieved your level of success without being an extrovert gives hope to anyone who might think they can’t do what they need to do to share their passion. You’ve always been authentic, Denise, and that counts for a lot in my book!
Thank you, Elizabeth, I appreciate your feedback. Being an introvert does present some challenges. The Web makes it easier to get out there, and sometimes you have to go offline to connect and that can create some anxiety for us introverts! Look forward to connecting with you again one day, in person!
First, I agree with Andrea 🙂 and I can relate to not always feeling connected. I think part of that is it’s different online because you aren’t talking face to face or even voice to voice. I worked for 10 years as a customer service rep so I had lots of both. After reading your post, it struck me, reminded me how different the feeling is communicating via email/blog posts instead. Not exactly sure how to translate that in person feeling/energy online, so maybe that’s something you can help us with too as you walk your own journey in that area.
Cheryl, thanks so much for chiming in. I agree that conveying energy and enthusiasm via the written word can be more challenging. Video makes it easier and that’s a tool I need to use more. Also, writing more casually vs. formally can make a difference. Blog on!
Denise -Wow! Thank you for your honesty and transparency! Just wanted you to know I’ve always felt your deep caring for your peeps. I’ve been following you for years, and you continue to lead us on the best path to online visibility success. I FEEL who you are, so yes, you are engaging, not just phoning in. Rock on! Your devoted fan, Ande Lyons
Ande, thank you for your very kind comment. I felt a surge of emotion and I’m grateful for your trust in me. Blog on!