Meet me in the Northeast Kingdom.

I'll be heading to the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont in a few weeks so if you want to learn to make Facebook work for your business meet me there. This "how-to" workshop I'm giving is part of the Symposium Workshops going on during the Vermont WoodNet Woodworkers Symposium and Trade Show on May 21-22, 2010.

Here are the Using Facebook as a Marketing Tool workshop details:

WHEN: May 22, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.

Where: St. Johnsbury Academy - St Johnsbury, Vermont

Cost: $10.00 per person (includes admission to receptions, keynote speakers, panel discussion and complimentary box lunch at Trade Show on Saturday).

Description: Workshop Description LINK

RSVP: CLICK HERE to register, before May 8, 2010.

Here's what participants of the workshop have said:

"I didn't think I would benefit from a Facebook page, but (after this workshop) I changed my mind and took the plunge."

"I am geared up and motivated now to making a facebook page for my business."

"Seeing how ads work and how to target them was extremely useful. I had been afraid to start the process since I couldn't find cost information. I will now try ads for my business."

Hope to see you there!

Let me know in the comments below (and/or on Twitter) if you're able to attend.

We need to make a shift in work environments that begin to appreciate each other.

In every organization there are a multitude of skills and strengths.

Here are a few for example:

The Connector - These people know who to go to when a certain task is required to get a job done. They know how to connect a person in upper management with someone on a manufacturing line to resolve a product problem. The connector is that kid in the schoolyard that everyone talked to no matter if they were a bully or a nerd.

The Inspirer - These people are always "cup half full" and help keep a team moving forward. They can even make impact with the naysayer. The Inspirer is that kid in the schoolyard that got everyone together knowing the lost lunch money could be found.

The Contributor - These people are behind the scene types who are quiet doers. Give these people a task and they get it done and usually add a pleasant surprise. The Contributor is the kid in the schoolyard that helped round up a group to jump rope and then held one of the ends while the rest took turns jumping.

There is much strength that people have within one organization. Bringing the appreciation of these skills out in the open is often not done because people are so involved in their own responsibilities, projects and in their own overwhelm and deadlines. Or the culture of an organization does not allow this to happen in an everyday environment or at all.

The Culture of an Organization

I once worked for an organization (that will remain nameless) that gave no recognition to the talents of the dedicated people that worked for them. The culture didn't allow for it and that started at the top. The leader in the organization, Nancy (not her real name) would belittle people at meetings, not allow for open and honest discussion and not allow for ideas and innovation. This organization had about 20 full-time employees and another 10 or so part-time employees. Weekly communication meetings would be held with the department heads and some other identified key people to go over what was going to happen in the next few weeks. I was one of the "key people" that came to the meeting. I would sit and listen, as week after week the same information was shared with little to no change. Most dreaded the meetings because they viewed it as a waste of resources. At the meetings sat a Connector, an Inspirer and many Contributors, but not once did I experience a situation where Nancy allowed or requested the strengths be put forth with a new or innovative idea.

The meetings, which Nancy could not attend, were quite different. In those meetings open discussion would occur and ideas would be generated and discussed. The skills and strengths would appear for a short while. In some of the meetings an action to bring an idea forward to Nancy would be taken. These ideas would need some level of "selling" to Nancy and some would succeed while most would not. I was a victim of both situations, (with and without Nancy) I made suggestions for ideas to either streamline a process or recommend a marketing concept.

Appreciation of fellow colleagues can happen in an open and on-going natural way. Some questions for you:

1. Have you or do you work in an environment that I have described?

2. How did it make you feel or how did you survive that environment?

3. What skills and strengths do you have that either you or a colleague has not appreciated?

I really want to hear your input on these matter because we need to make a shift in work environments that begin to appreciate each other.

Share your comments and share this post with others and ask them to comment. Let's begin a shift towards appreciation.

The Vermont Community Loan Fund is currently offering grant funding to "emerging and established small and micro for-profit businesses or cooperatives."

The funding will support the use of independent consultants to assist in a project that may involve a marketing or product problem or developing a new technology.

Businesses must meet some basic eligibility requirements and the grant award will not exceed $5,000 USD.

If you are a Vermont business you can find out more information at vclf.org

It's been up for a short time now and still lots to add to it, but I'm announcing here Kamigo Marketing is on Facebook.

Become a Fan

"What's the difference between a network and a group on Facebook?" This is a question that I have been asked often at introductory training workshops. The confusion is understandable because both allow you to connect to people.

Groups were once utilized as a place to create a business, brand or product page. Once Facebook launched the Pages product; an advertising strategy that is experiencing some decent success, groups have taken a back seat in the business category.

A network is a group of people that could currently work together attends school together or live near each other or could have done any of these in the past. When you join a network you get access to the Facebook profiles of the network's members and access to the groups, events and listings within that network. All this, of course, depends on the level of privacy of the members, but for the most part you have all access.

A group may be within that network to connect people that may have common interests. If you participate in a group you can comment on the discussion board, write on the group's wall or invite friend to join the group.

Groups can by closed requiring the administrator's approval to join or can even be an invite only group. You could think of it as a private club within the network. For example, if you were part of your College alumni network and within that network was a fraternity group which you were a brother of that group could allow only members of the fraternity to be part of the group.

The network is the whole apple while the group could be just a seed inside the apple. How have you used networks or groups? Have you created your own group?

On February 24, 2010, I'll be conducting one of two Webinars at the University of Vermont on Using Facebook as a Marketing Tool for Farm Businesses.

Don't worry, you won't be flooded with a "case studies, statistics or why you should" Webinar that you may have sat through before and just walked away frustrated that you learned little. These two sessions go beyond that, giving you the "How-To" of Facebook and will get you up and running after each session.

To find out more and to register, click here.

Image by Melissa Hemken

I admit it; I'm a frustrated Industrial Engineer. I'm one of those people who look for more efficiency in anything I undertake. I try to reduce the amount of steps in a project, the amount of times I handle a piece of paper and even when I'm planting vegetable seeds I analyze how I could do it with efficiency.

To shorten any process whether it's manufacturing magical widgets or streamlining new product development one must reduce the movements. This takes a skill to look at steps in slow motion or freeze frames to determine what is happening throughout any process.

To improve efficiency in new product development observation and foresight are critical factors. These factors allow one to see streamlining opportunities and focus. But, a common struggle with product development teams is to find the best vantage point to separate them from the project and view it without any bias. So much work, dedication and ownership goes into development efforts this struggle is understandable. I know. I've been there myself.

To help alleviate the struggle leading companies often bring in consultant to make those freeze frame observations and offer considerations. It's like having a newborn baby entering the world. The child has no pre-conceived idea or perceptions of how life should be. They look at everything with a fresh outlook.

A new set of eyes can result in:

1. Competitive advantages

2. Greater customer insight

3. Streamlined processes

4. Focused marketing campaigns

By applying this common sense approach to hire a fresh viewpoint via a marketing consultant to product development projects results in practical advice on how to make improvements and makes good long-term business sense.

Thank you for reading and commenting

I was dismayed when at an invitation-only meeting after the meeting ended one of the hosts turned his back on me as I stood politely waiting for a moment to speak to him. Has this happened to you?

Networking is an important part of every business, although for some it is difficult to meet strangers and strike up a conversation. I have had to deal with this difficulty myself and have found a technique that works best for me - just be myself. So, when the gentleman host turned his back I stood patiently while he had a discussion with another attendee and did not take it personally. Their conversation was not private as their voices remained at the same level. Even with my respectable distance I could clearly hear their conversation. I waited a few minutes longer and then wanting to speak to a few other attendees I walked away.

The not so funny thing about this whole episode was that the host, a non-profit, was seeking my business to get involved and help with input and support of policy-making. What this particular individual does not realize is that I am an activist on issues that I care about and I volunteer a considerable amount of my time to community efforts and non-profits.

Ways to Handle the Situation

I have found through my experiences of being "blown-off" in similar situations whether it's by people I'm talking to or want to talk to that there is a professional way to handle these situations. Face it, there isn't enough time to talk to everyone you want to speak to or meet. The way I've tried to handle these situations when either someone wants to talk to me or I to them is to maintain politeness and professionalism.

When I'm in a conversation with someone and I know someone is standing near and wants to speak to me I have politely interrupted the conversation (while I'm speaking) to acknowledge the person waiting. If I know that I don't have the time right then to speak to them I've asked them for a business card and promise to call them either later that day or the next day. I return to the conversation and thank the person I am talking to for waiting.

I have handled it in a similar way when there is someone I want to speak to who I'm standing near either asking them to speak to me before they leave or asking if I can call them later. If there is someone I want to speak to them but didn't get the chance and I have their contact information I find the meeting is the perfect opportunity to follow-up with them after the event.

In any situation I find myself in I make every effort to remain polite and professional.

Have you had similar experiences? How have you handled them? You can comment below.

Thanks for reading and thanks for your comments.

It was March, 2009 when I received a call from a neighbor one-morning asking if I would be available that evening to meet with a woman from Denver Colorado who wanted to interview a group of us in the community who have been working on an environmental and justice issue of groundwater in our community.

That night I met the woman from Denver, Dafna Michaelson, who decided at the end of 2008 that she was going to quit her job, withdraw her 401K and spend 2009 traveling the country visiting one state at a time to interview community problem solvers because she believes that "real change happens at the local level" and those stories must be told. After the interview (see it here) we all wanted to hear more about Dafna's journey and who else she was going to interview in New Hampshire. We inquired where she was staying that evening and found out she had no reservations made yet. I offered my guest room and with great appreciation she accepted.

Dafna and I began a friendship that evening and I began to help her with the journey by scheduling upcoming interviews whenever I could. She reciprocated whenever she could by giving my business and support a plug. Neither of us asked, we just did what felt right. Dafna has completed the Journey Women work and has now started the Journey Institute.

The point of this story is simple. We never know when or how we may meet a person and how that relationship will develop. People in business never really know when a bond will happen or a small jester will turn into a rewarding experience. Whether it's a new customer coming through the door, or a stranger in the store check-out line you let go ahead of you, how we treat people in every situation must come form the heart. When it comes from truth within it will go further and make a greater impact. And whether that person becomes a customer, a friend or remains a stranger in passing that does not matter as much as how you interact.

Leave a comment on how a chance meeting or action that you took turned into a positive?

Thanks for reading and commenting

Photo by Dafna Michaelson via 50in52journey.com