Head's Up! The Awesome Is Back.

Many of you may be asking yourselves about this blog.

What's happening with it? 

Where are the regular updates? 

What's shaking in KiKi's world? 

Where is the blog bliss we long for?

I know, I know. You can dry your tears because change is a comin'. 

This week's blog will feature:

• An awesome video interview with the always thought-provoking and unequaled Jeff De Cagna about his noteworthy e-book, Associations Unorthodox: Six Really Radical Shifts Toward the Future

• Words of wisdom from Association Chat, just in case you haven't attended any of these chats lately, I'll give you the skinny on what you've been missing!

• Blogs that are rocking my world lately: 6 Blogs That Are Changing My Life (for real - no joke)

• My Methods for Fighting Past Fear of the Ridiculous (and how that's made me who I am)

• My Upcoming Speaking Engagements and What I'm Changing About My Speaking Style to Make the Message Stick

How's that for awesome? 

You'll notice some trends, too. I'm in the midst of a deep dive investigation of what it is that truly lights my fire. My passion. My moxie. 

I didn't plan on this quest. It just sorta happened right after I went through a mid-life crisis/question of what I'm doing in this world.

But far be it from me to ever hold back on sharing what I'm learning from my own experience on this glorious spinning blue and white thing we call Earth. I've been quiet for a few months, but the time has come to move forward and bring you with me.

I'm ba-ack. And I'm ready for action.

I look forward to sharing this week's posts with you along with tales from my own mixed up, crazy, fun, and occasionally gut-wrenching journey. 

Have a great week and see you soon!

Conversations That Matter: Post ASAE Annual Summary

In my life I have one association I belong to that continues to serve as my professional home - the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). Every year when I leave ASAE's Annual Meeting, like I am today, I feel a combination of excitement and sadness. Excitement because I have new ideas and follow-up activities that will change my career for the better. Sadness because I have to leave all my good friends from all over the globe, whom I am not able to see very often face-to-face. It is like the end of summer camp, when we all go home from our friends to a world that seems a little different than it was before.

How I spent my summer at ASAE Camp:

1. I learned game changing tips from the sessions I attended that will change the way I present information and saw some dynamic presentations done in inspiring new and creative formats. I saw lessons presented as a fashion show, heard about brain science that increases learning for attendees, and listened to challenging discussions pushing the envelope on the way we look at association management.
2. I spent more time networking on the Expo Hall than I have in previous years and as a result I discussed potential new projects with people and forged new friendships. This used to be one of my least favorite parts of attending a conference and now I see it for the opportunities it presents. We are always learning!
3. In the bookstore I picked up the book I contributed a chapter to, The Component Relations Handbook, and a little later that day discussed co-hosting a new podcast in the near future with a good friend of mine.
4. I co-hosted the daily "Live From ASAE" show with Jay Daughtry and John Chen, courtesy of TMA Resources and had a complete blast. We're discussing doing a recap of the conference, so be on the watch for that.
5. I attended a dinner, hosted by a dear friend, that included a diverse and good-to-know crowd. I have several lunch dates lined up as follow-up to that dinner.
6. I co-presented with Sandra Giarde and Renato Songueco on being a "Mobile Warrior" and we knocked it out of the park!

Sandra Giarde and me at Dallas Cowboys Stadium on Opening Night

There are so many more wonderful parts of the ASAE Annual experience, I can't share them all, but look for more outcomes and musings in the following days as I report out on what I learned and what I'm changing in my practice for associations as a result.

Thank you to ASAE for another great conference and many thanks to all of my friends and supporters who made the experience special!

The ASAE Games: Goal Hunting at ASAE Annual

I'm excited! My hunting party is gathering in Dallas. I've come fortified with business cards, business suits, and an insatiable hunger for the games to begin. My fellow adventurers have their own goals for these next few days. As for me, I already know the three things I'm tracking while I am in Texas.

I will be spending the next few days attending the American Society for Association Executives (ASAE) Annual Conference, and my dance card is already full with so many things to do and people to talk to, that I am wondering how to do it all. But I have my mission - my list of goals I hope to achieve - and here they are in no particular order:

KiKi's ASAE Hunting List

1. Inspiration - What ideas will I hear discussed that will change the way I think or do business? What presenters will motivate me to be better, smarter, more creative? One of the things I love most about ASAE Annual is its ability to leave me with inspiration to grow on for months after the meeting has ended.

2. Community - Whom will I see from the Association Chat community? What kinds of conversations will I have with my longtime association friends? Where are the new faces from whom I'll get to know and learn?

3. The Big 3 - (I got this idea from Tom Morrison, a friend and fellow ASAE Member) Who are three people I'd like to develop stronger professional relationships with that I can continue working on after the meeting is over?

As a social media consultant, obviously finding business would be ideal, too, but at this point I believe that the business comes when I focus on the items on my hunting list first. How will things turn out? I'll post an update along the way, so you can share in my hunt! Please send me any tips or suggestions you have on ways to meet my goals.

Join Me in Louisville for #CESSE12!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012 - 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM
How do you serve your customers better in the digital age? This session will cover effective social media strategies customer service managers can use. There will also be time to help you develop action plans to implement when you get back to the office.




Session Chair:
Ashley Pruett, CAE, Manager of Membership & Member Contact Center, ASHRAE

Speaker:
KiKi L'Italian, President, Amplified Growth
Breathitt

Like Sands Through The Hourglass...Spilling Off Of My Desk

The sand broke free from my hourglass this morning ... it's a mess, but it reminds me that we only fool ourselves that we can control time.

Today, time has broken free and we have plenty! Have a great day, everyone!

Fierce Membership, Part II

Happy early Independence Day!

"Don't Tread On Me"(the words with the image of the coiled snake on the Gadsden Flag from the American Revolution) represented the desire for independence and controlled individualism back in the day.

Today, too, Fierce Members (FMs)* want to work and rework the system so that it runs better and provides the benefits FMs know the membership needs. Forget about the policies, what will it take to make an association meaningful (or relevant) - those are the issues the FMs worry about the most. And they want to be the ones to help solve that riddle.

Understand these fierce members and you'll have their loyalty to support your efforts.

In Part 1 of this blog post, I mentioned the importance of volunteering to the FM. Heaven forbid an association should squander the talents of an FM when they have volunteered and not appoint the member to a chance to be heard. Such an offense would equal betrayal in the FMs eyes when they know so much work that could and should be done!


"I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve." -Albert Schweitzer

How to Turn Fierce Members Into Your Best Volunteers

1. Find or create a place for them to do their work. Look for meaningful ways they can provide input and apply their unique skills to challenges and opportunities within your association.
2. Never, I repeat, never fail to communicate directly with them and work to find a place for their services. This is an almost unforgivable offense in the mind of the Fierce Member.
3.  Say thanks and provide recognition. Don't ask for them to use their skills in "one-off" opportunities and then forget to shine the spotlight on them. 

What are some other ways to turn FMs into your best volunteers? Please add your thoughts and have a great holiday!


*Fierce Members (FMs): A new breed of member who knowingly chooses to pay membership dues to belong to an association in spite fo the many free options available to them to network and build their careers without belonging to an association. These members are demanding because they want to get what they paid for and most often give something back to the organization for the people coming up behind them.

Fierce Membership

The days of passive membership are done. For the most part, many people have found a way - or can find a way, should they desire - around paying for membership to allow for career growth and community.

But associations still have a place in the world - one that recognizes a new kind of member and a new set of expectations - a home for fierce membership.

What is "fierce membership" and how is it different than what associations have witnessed before? 

A "fierce member"...:

1. knows their benefits and probably wants all of them plus more

2. wants to be involved in volunteer efforts and will leave if not given the chance to change the organization (after all, they are already educated and active in the other free ways to engage, as well)

3. desperately wants to change the organization for the better from the inside-out

4. isn't satisfied with annual meetings - is looking for more engagement

5. can be your best advocate or worst enemy - depending on how you treat them

Do you recognize these qualities in any of your members? What are you doing today to foster this new breed of member and how is it challenging your routine?

Sign Up for My Webinar Series!

I'm super excited about the upcoming Nour Advantage webinar series that I'm doing with bestselling author, international speaker, and senior management advisor David Nour.

We're discussing 10 game-changing trends everyone should know about. I hope you'll join us and sign up to listen in!

http://www.relationshipeconomics.net/Advantage.html

Be Wary of Assumptions

One of the first lessons I remember learning in the association world is to be wary of assumptions. As soon as the word "assume" would come out of my mouth, my mentor/director would remind me that assumptions were often the first place where results would fall short, never to assume anything.

Still, it is hard to remember the familiar rules when you feel like you've been there before. I remember a recent experience when I was part of a conference call and I knew one of the other people on the phone was a fastidious note taker. In fact, she was an expert in the long lost art of shorthand and was known for taking exquisite notes with all of the depth and knowledge one could ask for. I took it easy during the call and jotted down a few things, but otherwise I held back knowing that the expert had it all under control.

Except she didn't.

Unbeknownst to me, she had to duck off the call early. I found out later that my inferior notes would have to suffice and I was reminded of that primary rule learned so long ago...that one must never assume anything!

Be wary of assumptions. If you ever find yourself saying, " I assume..." red flags should go up. Never assume. Always ask or clarify. You'll be glad you did.

Today, I'm thankful for...