Don't drown - Grab for the hand!

This past weekend I was privileged enough to be a part of a leadership retreat for the Junior League.  I will be serving as Publicity Chair for the organization and am humbled by the honor.  As a new leader in the organization (this will be my first active year) I attended the retreat with a bit of fear and apprehension on adding on such an enormous job to my already busy life - voluntarily, and in thinking this would all be on me.  But as the retreat went one, speakers and leaders talked - we laughed, we learned, and I soaked it in - I began to truly realize that I will not be embarking on this activity alone.  Yes I will need to create and innovate - but when I need help it will be given to me; when I need support - I will be supported - I am not in this alone and together we make the organization great. The only key is - I have to ask for it.

It reminded me that no matter how often I speak to people and groups, I am still overwhelmed at times - and a little scared - when I think of an entire organization relying on me to do this one job, and most of the time I take it on full speed.  But they are and they aren't.  Many times we go into positions, jobs, careers, school, and volunteer activities without fully realizing we are part of a whole and although people are relying on you, they are not expecting you to do absolutely everything.  There is always support - if you just ask.

As a woman it is very hard for me to ask for help at times, but as I've grown in my career I have one word of advice that I have learned, for everyone out there - Man or Woman- "When you are overwhelmed, reaching out for support will save your life and open you up to new adventures. If you are drowning and someone grabs your hand to pull you out, right as you go under - don't you think there is a great adventure waiting for you now that you have bought more time?"   So please in your career endeavors remember that whether it be for additional training. meeting a deadline, or just having to hand a job off - not wearing the weight of the world on your shoulders alone can bring you even greater benefits and success.

~Nicole is an independent consultant, specializing in start-ups and expanding exposure.  With over a decade's worth of business development, marketing and online experience, Nicole has been increasing revenue for companies large and small, and loving every minute of it.

Social Media Time

So I just received, via snail mail (still keeping the Post office in some sort of business), a new book on social media practices.  Now although I haven't had the time to start it I am really excited that so many articles, books, etc. are being written to focus on this. 
Think about how long it takes for something to go viral, for people to make millions just posting on youtube.com, for your "friends" to share a link, or retweet something to their following.  It is SO important, stressing this again - SO IMPORTANT - to keep your brand clear and clean in social media. This brand can be you, or your company - but you have to be cognisant of it all the time.  Social Media can hurt you or sell you - but it's up to you to ensure which one it is.  Social Media allows us to readily share our thoughts and ideas with the world - where as 20 years ago it was just our friends.  Now you have the ability to reach out and truly try to "conquer" the virtual world.
So what are you waiting for - get your "Brand" together and start promoting via social media - the cheapest and best advertising you can do!