Speakers are not Heroes

Delivering no less than 4 presentations a month in face-to-face and webinar form has made me take things for granted at times. Less planning time despite my presentation deck having reasonably useful content.

When I got hold of the book "Resonate" by Nancy Duarte, the ideas sparked my curiosity.

As I have a January 5 webinar on Professional Blogging, Social Media Marketing, and Advertising, decided to dump my old deck and take the risk of trying out the process Duarte suggest in her book. Here is the new deck.

This required a change in perspective and process on my end - specifically in these two (2) areas:

1. The audience is the hero. The presenter is the mentor.

While it is clear that the role of a speaker is to inform and inspire the audience, Duarte reminds that the speaker is a mentor - not a hero.

The audience is the hero. However, the mentor needs to provide enough motivation and guide. Inputs to help them decide whether to proceed with the journey.

When pitching for an idea, got reminded there will always be a possible refusal. Often triggered when the audience perceives how tough the journey can be. ("It is a nice idea. But I am not like you who has these resources and networks that can make things easy.")

A mentor can also connect better with the audience by having shared journeys (showing qualification), experiences, and common goals.

Whether they will commit to change and cross the threshold shall totally depend whether the mentor will resonate with the target audience.

2. Planning the presentation form.

I have a tendency to cram my deck with information, trivia, screenshots, and other info. However, Duarte warns that this may work in reverse and overwhelm the audience. Her presentation form intrigues me.

Duarte observed a lot of great presentations have:

• Motivating structure using emotional and analytical contrast. 
• Use the form of "what is" and "what could be" to show the wide gap.
• Call to adventure.
• Communicate and support a big idea.
• Strengthen by stories.
• Call to action.
• Promise of bliss or reward.

What I like about the above process is it encourages focus and brevity. Made me conscious as well whether the original idea am trying to convey will be received or not.

I'm starting a journey. Changing the way I present ideas and share knowledge. Wish me luck.

Work cultures: change, adapt, join, or move out?

I had a long phone conversation with a workaholic friend last night asking for advice on what can she do in a year to prepare for a freelance consulting career. Her conglomerate work is taking the toll on her due to management changes and politics. This includes her former staff, who got realigned, saying things behind her back. Her current staff becoming lukewarm working with her. Other department boss desperately trying to find faults in her. Finally, a not-so supportive boss (unlike the previous one) that tends to slow her down.

At first, it felt awkward being asked how she can deal with it as the last time I was in a corporate setting was more than a decade ago. My longest employment was only 2 years and realized that patience in adjusting to people's whims - the ones you spend your time with (more than your family) - is not going to be worth it especially if destructive and corrupted. It is either you change, adapt, join (begin thinking like them), isolate yourself (which is nearly impossible), or just move out.

However, as moving out is not an option yet - as her employment provides the income needs to survive, my advice to her is to change and adapt - narrowed down to the following:

1. Check your attitude and what you say
   Staff who back-stabs their bosses are those who got hurt and unable to defend themselves. When things become unreasonable and they can't do anything about it, the only way to let their stress out is to talk, find an outlet, where they can vent how they feel. Avoid expressing disappointment on your staff performance to other people that can be overhead by another staff. Worst, if they get transferred or promoted, "revenge" is inevitable. She should also avoid flaunting her lifestyle that can be subject to unnecessary scrutiny and malicious interpretations.
   
   To repair, my workaholic friend needs to rebuild her team relationship. If they are not performing well, get them trained or transferred or clarify expectations. If they did a good job, recognize and show appreciation (lunch treats or pizza). Help them get promoted too if possible.
   .
2. Dealing with "feeling-indispensable" bullies
   This one was a bit tough. Her other department peer, being more senior than her in terms of years of service is an office bully. The ultimate gossip girl who knows the story of almost anyone in the office including the bosses.
   
   She sweet talks new people in the office and later on ask favors from them - bluntly ask for gifts, borrow money, and invest in a risky business. A former staff, who applied to another department, my friend complained as to how rude she has been and badmouths her to other people. However, the bully also delivers and boldly claim that she can't be fired - "I'm indispensable".
   
   My only advice to her on this one, as the bully is beyond her department control, is to talk to this person's boss. "But her boss is afraid of her!" I laughed and ask to give it a shot. Talking to Human Resource (HR) is also a possibility - to review company ethics - but I worry that can drain and eat up a lot of precious time.
   .
3. Dealing with the boss and fellow bosses.
   A not-so supportive boss can be demotivating indeed. However, my friend has to calibrate her expectations as hardly any two bosses shall be alike. I guess this is also the reason why others leave their employers just to follow their former bosses - wherever they go.
   
   I think what made things challenging - she was also a candidate for promotion - on the position this boss holds now (when it was still vacant). Then working together now, this boss might feel that she is still after it. "Best to show support and be a useful resource. Get the job done. If he is still not disarmed, clarify expectations."
   
   This includes another department boss, who she directly compete with, in the projects that they do (resource and top executives support). This person makes a big deal on changes, decisions, and related matters. This person even complains to top executives. Trust on her ability, by the big bosses, gradually decreasing and felt by her.
   
   This one is also tough. "If you are competitive, will you curb your abilities just to give way for others to shine and preserve the peace? Or you fight head on? Where will you be in 3 years?"
   
   An early retirement option is coming her way and she is now thinking of availing of it soon. Then I guess it is to her best interest to just preserve the peace, make things right for her successor, and plan her exit - big time.
   .
4. Bolt out.
   Going out doing her own business is something that this friend of mine is considering. For some, it is an easy decision. But if you have worked for most of your life, move all the way up to a junior executive position, this is not an easy decision to make.
   
   Enumerating those options may be too long for this post. But I look forward seeing her as an entrepreneur soon. Am sure - she will be a great one.

This is not the first time I encountered the above situations. This year alone, I heard of similar stories from 4 peers who asked for advice. It seems my being a freelancer for quite sometime got their attention and is something they are also interested in getting into.

But more than that, listening to the stories has an effect, partly my subconscious in dealing with people I encounter, especially if the one sharing it is depressed already. Therefore I decided to blog about it and ask friends in the future to read it first before discussing the matter.

Celebrating Steve Jobs legacy with the iPhone 4s

Last October 6, I went to GMA Network Center as guest for the program News To Go. The assigned topic was "social media reactions received in relation to the iPhone 4s launch" that happened last October 4 in the U.S.. While on the road, the AM radio program anchor (Noli De Castro - I think) said Steve Jobs died already. I immediately checked Twitter and read the outpour of condolence messages.

While waiting for the interview at GMA, the coordinator told me there's a change of topic. It will be focused on Steve Jobs.

It made me reflect at what point did he really made a difference in my life. My first encounter with an Apple computer was at Datamex computer school. I was studying Wordstar, BASIC, COBOL, Visicalc, and Dbase II then. Can't recall which Apple model it was anymore. Got the chance to own a Newton as well but I guess it was too advance at that time.


In 1997, while organizing the Philippine Internet Commerce Society, the "Crazy Ones" video came out shown at the iMac launch (also known as Think Different campaign). At that same event, Eric Clapton's song "Change the World" was played too complimenting the machine introduction. My whole e-commerce advocacy then took a different level of perspective. I reflect and thought - if I do this right, I will change the Philippines Internet industry by making e-commerce a reality.



So that campaign did not made me buy a Mac - but it inspired me further to be determined with the Philippine Internet Commerce Society cause. When the E-Commerce Law was eventually passed, industry peers were teasing me as "Erin Brokovich". In times of joy and pain, until now, the "Crazy Ones - Think Different" script and lyrics of "Change The World" often resonates with how I feel at a moment. (that is also when I realized that it was partly a very sad song)

In 2010, I decided to get a MacBook Pro especially when the payment terms became more friendly to folks like me. Also got an iPhone 4.

With new features promised with the iPhone 4s, I know it is a must have gadget - even for the simplest reason - to own Steve Jobs last full product creation and honor the person who has inspired a lot of people around the world.



I only hope that Globe Telecom's SuperSurf packages for prepaid will include the monthly one (SuperSurf999). Similar to their BlackBerry where BBMax599 is good for a month already.

Also, the tethering features, please turn it on by default. I now own a Samsung Galaxy S2 and enjoying its tethering features at times when I need it the most. Hope that can be allowed for both iPhone and BlackBerry (Playbook).

I look forward to the launch and fall in line to get my unit soon. :)

Blogging Communities: Relevance in the Age of Social Media

The recent Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs 2011 writing project process made me reflect on how the Philippines blogging community is evolving. Much has remained the same but there are behaviors emerging or further reinforced. This includes:

Mindmap inspired from the book Brains on Fire

1. Community leaders will rule
   One's influence is greatly determined or established by which community he or she belongs to. It doesn't have to be a numbers game but more of how dependent or attached its members became to it.
   
   I certainly love Pinoy Bloggers for its very democratic setting. At the same time, it only allows postings that are meant to benefit the community members at large - rather than be self-serving. Although not all community leaders will be able to muster support for endeavors, but their visibility and attitude has great influence to the members at large.
   
   The same can be said to formal communities or organizations where the officers and members have the power to reach out to make their advocacies known. The SOCCSKSARGEN Bloggers community have shown through the years that physical location is certainly not a barrier to build a brand and attract like-minded advocates to support.
   
   Of course, not all groups are visible to the social media eye. There are bloggers who formed secret communities of their own to stay away from usual politics that happens in this space.
   
   In the end, bloggers who come together find common interest as their binding ground. Once that common interest gets compromised, true colors become evident and can be perceived differently depending on where bloggers stand on issues.
    
2. Women bloggers as a force
   This is the first time where majority of the blogs recognized as influential are owned by women. Despite groupings and independence of early female bloggers, the Pinay Mommies Community showed that women, when united and trustful of each other, can lift each other online.

Blogging Ahead from Blogging from Home

Polarization: strength or weakness?

With growing number of groups and influencers in the local blogging community, it is probable that not one blogging group will set the tone. They could participate as a group or as individual in voicing out concerns on issues that will arise in the future.

How far will that go? I think 2012 and 2013 will shed more light, thriving in chaos, with blogging as an activity becomes more mainstream. Especially with traditional media personalities entering this space, such as Move.PH, and decided to be part of the bigger blogging population.