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February,
2010
A
Promising Month
Greetings
and welcome to the February edition. Like many of you, we're
currently being blanketed by heavy snow. The good news is
that we've all got a roof over us, plenty of food, and a
warm bed. I hope you will remember that there are many in
your local community who are not as fortunate, and that
you will can do what you can to serve them.
I've
been quiet for fear of jinxing it, but I can now let the
cat out of the bag: Gary Jones and his son James are again
working with me in Deeper Blues. Gary has been dealing with
a serious neck and shoulder injury that forced him to the
sidelines for over a year. Although not healed, and facing
a difficult operation and subsequent rehabilitation, Gary
just had to get back to work.
We've
already had our few performances, here in town at our old
Friday evening stomping grounds. It's always fun, because
it's family friendly (like all of our shows) and is early
enough the the whole family can attend.
With
the first shows under our belt, we're now looking forward
to booking dates for the spring and summer seasons, including
in-store clinics and other educational opportunities. I
find it very rewarding to offer these workshops, which range
from music appreciation to advice for aspiring professionals.
It allows me to give something back to the music community.
It's also an excellent way for me to combine my business
and music careers in various ways, not the least of which
is incorporating music into business presentations.
Of
course, it's always been part of the plan (or plans, I should
say) to bring the band along for events in support of Teach
Me Bass Guitar and David Nordschow Amplification. Both companies
continue to make excellent strides following this year's
NAMM show. I've definitely got enough to keep me busy!
The
Learning Dock, LLC, wins Aegis Award
Many
congratulations to The Learning Dock, LLC, publishers of
Roy Vogt's Teach Me Bass Guitar, for their recently won
Aegis Award.
CEO
and Executive Producer David Crossman, instructor Roy Vogt,
and Producer Jason Crossman, won the award for the Best
Educational category, recognizing the course's groundbreaking
production. You can read the press release here.
As
I've written before, Roy and I have been friends for over
twenty years, and I've always admired his knowledge and
skills, both as a fellow bassist and as a master educator.
David's production adds so many new elements - things no
one else ever dreamed of (and a lot of extra work, mind
you). It's a major accomplishment to be honored, and it
clearly demonstrates the validity of David and Roy's vision
of changing the way we will learn in the 21st century.
True
Service: Bullet Points, Not Scripts
One
of the most important aspects of True Service is to allow
the employee to be human, and to be themselves. Even a topnotch
customer service strategy can be harmed by forcing employees
to fit a tight mold. The key, then, is to provide specific
benchmarks to guide employees while leaving room for personality.
Read More...
Resource:
Community College
Many
if not most visitors to my site have at least a bachelor's
degree; many have postgraduate work under their belt as
well. So why am I recommending your local community college
as a resource? There are several reasons. Read
More...
Quick
Tip: Use Separate Social Networks
One
of the most dangerous pitfalls of engaging in social network
marketing is wasting time on personal activities during
your work day. I have found that it helps greatly to use
separate pages or streams for work-related activities and
personal activities. This way, I can focus on my actual
marketing without being drawn into items that will only
waste my work time.
You've
Got Questions
Q:
I'd like to add offering presentations to my business.
How do I start?
A:
First,
you need something to present - hopefully something related
to the rest of your business. Prepare a list of potential
topics, then create a scalable presentation that you can
give in 45-90 minutes. Then, summarize your presentation
into a short talk (15-30 minutes) that you can give at a
luncheon or similar event. Second, start locally: libraries,
business and civic groups (Rotary, Lions, etc.) and other
outlets are available to help you refine your skills. When
you feel you're ready for prime time, market to current
clients and others in those industries you serve.
Thought
for the Day
True
leadership must be for the benefit of the followers, not
the enrichment of the leaders. ~~ Robert Townsend
End
of Servant-Leadership Solutions V2010, #2, a publication
of:
Lane Baldwin Servant-Leadership Solutions
My business is improving yours.
Copyright
by Lane Baldwin Servant-Leadership Solutions, 2010. Reprinting
or republication of Servant-Leadership Solutions is prohibited
without prior approval.
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