Positive Change

In today's time, it is hard to keep a fresh perspective on the positive changes we are experiencing. We are going to try and achieve this task with this blog.

With technology, change is happening faster than any other generation has experienced. Even the industrial age did not experience such a fast pace with so many facets. With this swift change how can we find the positive changes in all the noise?

With this election we are reminded multiple times an hour how bad things are. Why are we only hearing the negative? Why aren’t others showcasing the positive ideas we can achieve as a society versus messages of hate and segregation? I still do not understand why this form of communication is so effective, as the numbers show that negative ads have an effect on voters.

The media tends to believe that a noncontroversial candidate has no public interest and there are statistics that support their position. Otherwise, this path would not make money and therefore not exist. Perhaps we have given them the message that we need subjects to escape.

The intention of this blog is to make an effort to help others become Persuasive Messengers in a positive manner. Are we afraid of positive change?

Simplicity & Misconceptions

We all have misconceptions. Where they come from is always hard to pinpoint. It surprises me that most people believe what they hear long before having the facts. For example:

Global warming is an occurring issue with misconceptions.

The above piece is part of a series that was created to educate a panel of the misconceptions related with global warming, along with it's causes. This is proof that simplicity can have a very persuasive effect.

The Equation Of Persuasion™

I have trademarked THE EQUATION OF PERSUASION™.  I strongly believe that the strongest part of this equation is the “ability to relate to others” or create a relationship with others.  This is a strong, positive tool.  I do believe we are all born with the ability to put ourselves in other people’s shoes.  This is the definition of empathy.  When you look at past relationships, I am sure you will find that the most significant connections were based on a premise of you and the other person relating to a subject, an emotion, an event, a culture, or possibly even connected physically.

We are in a place today of feeling as though we need to constantly defend ourselves.  Our bond to one another is a feeling of defensiveness and fear in the world.  That is what comes along with war and so much change in such a short period of time.  But in our core we all want a positive outcome.

As a messenger, we all have the ability to stop and get out of our own world and reach out a hand to others and make them feel important.  You can get to know your audience.  You can create a relationship with a room full of 200 people if you do your homework.  Try to understand what they need and when you can achieve this, you will become a powerful positive persuasive messenger. Say that 3 times and click your heels!

Alternative Energy

Over the past few days we have had unusually cloudy weather in Los Angeles. After living in Chicago with a completely opposite environment from LA, I have become extremely spoiled with the Southern California weather. After day 5 without the sun I started to feel somewhat stir-crazy.

Then there it was – the sun came out. I went out on my deck and stood there excited to feel the heat from the sun. Then later that day it became very warm and when I left my office, a cool breeze was in the air and I thought – Wow that feels great after a long day.

How often do you stop to think that nature provides so many different types of energy for us to use? This graphic shows the fact that we are large consumers of petroleum compared to other types of energies available to us. Do the wind and the sun give us some freedom? I just know that when I stepped out on my deck I was so happy to have the sun on my face and warm up quickly without having to think it would show up on one of my monthly home bills.

Next time you feel the sun on your face or a refreshing cool breeze; remember that it is a natural form of energy that can be so environmentally friendly and a precious resource that can bring you back to sanity!

Everyone loves a good story

With the media so much in our face these days it has been hard to find facts versus listening to others' opinion on the facts. How can we have an open mind when we only have others opinions to go on? How does anyone these days persuade others that their story or accomplishments are true? We seem to be so divided these days, yet do we really know the true story behind all the issues we are faced with? Democratic, Republican, Independent, Tea Party - there is a lot of talk with very little to back it up. Most of us go on what we hear and not on what we see…yet it is proven that we have higher retention levels with pictures coupled with a story as opposed to only the spoken word.

How does one become a PERSUASIVE MESSENGER in this environment when we disagree we yell at each other? Is this what we have become?

Visual Persuasion is nowhere to be found. As many people keep asking –“Why isn’t the Democratic party able to tell their story?” It is a question I keep asking myself. There are many good facts out there. There are techniques and a methodology in which they can improve their skills to continue the great story that was started in 2008.

Everyone loves a good story. That is what makes America great. That’s what got us the change throughout history in the first place. Let’s open our minds to the positive changes we are starting to see. Let’s get back the leaders who are trying their hardest to do their best for us – not divide us.