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Maintaining a Positive Mindset

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BONUS FREEBIE: Want even more ways to stay organized, productive and less stressed? Click here to get access to my List-Making Starter Kit. It will boost your efficiency and get you back to doing more of the things you love.

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My husband and I are in the process of selling our apartment and it’s absolutely exhausting.

That on top of everything else – work stuff, family time, the to-dos — can be super draining. 

Am I right? Are you feeling this too? 

And when we’re drained, it can be easy to slip into the doom-and-glooms.

You know what I’m talking about.  I work really hard at keeping a positive attitude but sometimes it can seem impossible. 

If you agree…

Then you’ll definitely enjoy this episode of Inside Scoop.

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Creating Content to Impress Potential Employers

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BONUS FREEBIE: Your message deserves the media’s attention. So how do you get out there in a bigger way? I’ve got you covered. CLICK HERE to grab my free “Checklist to Become a Go-To Media Expert.”

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Many of you are looking for new jobs. But are you trying everything you can to attract your dream opportunities and employers? Are you doing more than just applying to job ads online?

I talk a lot about creating content and have spoken to several experts about how to do that consistently on my live-streaming show Inside Scoop. But my conversation with executive coach and career strategist, Susan Peppercorn, was a more in depth look at using content to strategically attract the professional opportunities you want.

Here are four ways to create content to impress potential employers.

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2022 Media and Productivity Predictions

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BONUS FREEBIE: Want even more ways to stay organized, productive and less stressed? CLICK HERE to get access to my List-Making Starter Kit. It will boost your efficiency and get you back to doing more of the things you love.

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2021 has flown by and it’s almost 2022! I thought it would be fun to look back at my productivity predictions from last year!

Here’s a look back at my thoughts for 2021 and my predictions for 2022!

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Being Relatable in a Virtual World

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BONUS FREEBIE: Your message deserves the media’s attention. So how do you get out there in a bigger way? I’ve got you covered. CLICK HERE to grab my free “Checklist to Become a Go-To Media Expert.”

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We’ve all heard phrases like “be yourself,” “be authentic,” “just be you” and your following, relationship, etc. will fall into place. That’s hard enough. But it’s even harder to do on video.

So how do you stay relatable in our new hybrid world and make lasting connections in your personal and professional life?

Relationship Expert, Speaker, Author, & Media Personality, Rachel Dealto joined me recently on an episode of my live-streaming show, Inside Scoop, to discuss her new book called “Relatable: How to Connect with Anyone, Anywhere (Even If It Scares You)” which covers how to achieve those goals.

Here’s a quick guide to staying authentic and building relationships in person and online.

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Building An Online Following

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BONUS FREEBIE: Your message deserves the media’s attention. So how do you get out there in a bigger way? I’ve got you covered. CLICK HERE to grab my free “Checklist to Become a Go-To Media Expert.”
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What good is it to have an amazing business, book, or creation if no one knows about it? You have to get yourself out there!

I know it’s not always easy to toot your own horn. But it’s essential. There’s no point in doing all those wonderful things if nobody can find, enjoy, and learn from them.

That’s why I invited book publicist and President & Co-founder of the publicity and digital marketing firm Pacific & Court, Kourtney Jason, on my live-streaming show Inside Scoop to chat about Building an Online Following.

Here’s a quick list of our top tips for building your following.

1) “Be your own amplifier.”

That’s the first thing Kourtney said. And she’s right.

You need to be sharing content across all of your social media platforms consistently. Just because you shared something doesn’t mean anyone saw it.

“There’s so much new content coming out online everyday. It’s so easy for things to be overlooked,” Kourtney added.

 

And while we’re on the topic of sharing your content on all your platforms…

2) Get on multiple platforms.

I feel like I’m constantly opening apps, looking for something I saw earlier, and saying “oh, where did that go? Oh, I should have saved that.”

People will follow you in multiple places. Sharing your content in multiple places will help your followers find the content they’re looking for.

Another way to do that is to think beyond social. As we saw recently, you need to have an alternative way to communicate with your followers in case Facebook or Instagram go down. Create your own website. Have your own email list. No one else will ever own those and you’ll be in complete control.

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3) Understand your platforms and create your content accordingly.

Not all the content has to be exactly the same on all the platforms.

“The big misconception for a lot of people is that they think, okay, I’m going to do this one thing. I’m just going to blast it everywhere. In the exact same form in the exact same way. And that’s actually not great,” Kourtney said.

Look at the analytics on each of your platforms.

Kourtney says to ask yourself when is your audience online? Also you should know how many likes and comments you are getting. She also suggests doing your own social media audits.

Know when people online are engaging with you. Use the platform analytics to figure out the best time to post. Because it might not be what you think.

“It’s a good time for us [Pacific & Court] to post on the weekends. And you wouldn’t always think that for a company, but that’s when we are getting good engagement,” Kourtney said.

There are so many different services on each platform. Make sure you’re using them.

Instagram is great for photos. The Instagram algorithm recognizes faces so Kourtney suggests posting photos of yourself and videos there.

Share Articles or Press Hits on Twitter Kourtney says Twitter is great for links and sharing things that take you somewhere else.

Facebook is great for events and calendars. If you’re hosting an event, doing a speaking engagement, or a book signing that people can attend, Kourtney says to  create an event and your audience can add it to their calendar.

Hashtags work everywhere. Kourtney suggests that you, “really know what the popular and engaging hashtags are.” If you’re not sure what those are, check out Social Media Examiner.

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Join me for my NEW LinkedIn Learning Course “Be an Effective Hybrid or Virtual Employee” streaming now!

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Kourtney and I also discussed podcasts and best practices for authors looking to build a following online. Check out our entire conversation here.

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BONUS FREEBIE: Your message deserves the media’s attention. So how do you get out there in a bigger way? I’ve got you covered. CLICK HERE to grab my free “Checklist to Become a Go-To Media Expert.”
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Four Ways to Master Post-Pandemic Etiquette

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BONUS FREEBIE: Your message deserves the media’s attention. So how do you get out there in a bigger way? I’ve got you covered. CLICK HERE to grab my free “Checklist to Become a Go-To Media Expert.”

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So many of us are getting back to in-person or hybrid work, which is something to celebrate. In fact, I have a whole course on LinkedIn Learning dedicated to the topic. It’s called Enhance Productivity in a Hybrid Work Environment. 

But this new phase also introduces some uncertainty when it comes to interacting with coworkers who you likely haven’t seen in person in months. 

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Mastering the Art of Self-Promotion

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No one wants to come off as boastful, self-involved, or a pest. But we all want to be recognized for our accomplishments and network with leaders in our fields. 

So, how can you respond to this tension? Jennefer Witter has some ideas. Jennefer is a public speaker, author, and founder of The Boreland Group, a public relations agency that specializes in minority-led and women-owned companies.

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Five Steps for Healthy Virtual Communication

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JOIN ME FOR GO LIVE! MASTERCLASS: Everything you need to produce a polished, lucrative and fun live-stream show that makes you stand out. Sign up here! 

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Communication is crucial to every aspect of life. But healthy communication isn’t always easy.

That’s especially true during the pandemic, when so much communication has become virtual.

Communication expert, professional speaker, coach, and consultant Robyn Hatcher, a guest on my live-streaming show Inside Scoop, helps people connect with purpose. 

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Work-From-Home Wardrobe Tips

When I transitioned to working from home after almost 20 years as a TV producer, I soon realized that I needed to get dressed to keep up my productivity and professionalism.

So many people are coming to the same conclusion now that working remotely is on the rise — what you wear really matters for your work and how others perceive you.

Even if you’re planning to return to the office when the pandemic is over, dressing professionally can be a challenge. That’s especially true if you’re a speaker or author who does TV interviews or produces video!

If you’re looking for tips on how to create a wardrobe that really works for your needs, Cass Sethi is here to help. I spoke with her on my live-streaming show Inside Scoop. Cass is a personal stylist and runs an amazing business with a fabulous Instagram profile, Next Level Wardrobe.

Here are Cass’s top five tips for dressing for success:

1. Don’t get TOO comfortable.

When you’re working from home, it’s all too easy to roll right out of bed into a meeting. That means no “Zoom shirts” and no PJs. I know it’s hard to resist, but Cass says you’ll be glad you put the effort in (and I can confirm). It helps your productivity to get dressed and get in “work mode.” 

Getting dressed also helps you create boundaries between work and your home life, which is especially important when you’re working remotely. I actually have a whole course on this topic — you can check it out here!

Cass and I agree that it’s good to still be comfortable when you’re working remotely — I always wear slippers, for example. But setting limits on loungewear will set you up for success. 

2. Stock up on basics. 

First off — basics don’t  mean boring! Cass recommends items that fit your body and your style so well that you can just throw them on easily without any fuss.

In particular, Cass loves a well-fitting button-down shirt. She says it elevates your style and looks approachable yet professional. 

3. Have fun with accessories. 

When Cass’s clients tell her they want a little bit of “pop” in their outfit, she always recommends accenting with accessories. That could be a statement earring, lipstick, necklace, or even nail polish.

This lets you experiment without looking unprofessional or distracting your colleagues, audience, or clients. That’s especially important when you’re doing video calls or interviews. For more information on doing your makeup for video, you can check out this article.

Plus, with virtual meetings, your background becomes another kind of accessory! Cass says that adding a plant or some other small visual interest can allow your background to reflect your personality without detracting from what you’re saying.

And no virtual backgrounds, unless you’re using them in a social setting. Stick to minimal, neat (and real) backgrounds in professional contexts.

4. Head in the right direction.

When it comes to what’s on your what’s on your head — hat and hair — Cass says less is more. Baseball hats are definitely off the table on Zoom calls, because they block your face.

If you’ve let your hair grow wild during quarantine, Cass recommends finding a DIY haircut video or adding a little bit of product to tame it. 

5. Buying? Invest in core colors first.

When it comes to buying new items, Cass recommends staying with your core colors: gray, white, black and navy. Shop for basics in those core colors and then focus on more colorful items that you can use to add pops of personality. 

And when you want to buy something, Cass recommends skipping the Instagram ads and finding the piece from a trusted company. Finding high-quality pieces that will look great and last for a long time is key.

If you want to hear the rest of Cass’s tips, you can check out the full episode of Inside Scoop here. 

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Zoom 101: Video Call Guide

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JOIN ME FOR “VIRTUAL MEETING PRO: Elevate your virtual presentation skills via video. With video meetings becoming the norm, it’s more important than ever to present well on camera. CLICK HERE to join my online training “Virtual Meeting Pro.”

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The transition to Zoom video calls is here to stay. Are you ready?

Whether you’re an enthusiastic adopter or a wary straggler, there are so many features to Zoom that just take some time to figure out. 

I’ve been using Zoom for all my meetings ever since I started working from home a few years ago. I’ve seen all the ways that Zoom can trip people up and cause issues — and how it can make meetings more efficient. (Plus it can make your virtual holidays and birthdays even better!) 

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