Yes it’s true.  Sarah Nicole and I are having our 2nd Baby.  WOWOWOW!!  Social Baby #2!!!

If you’ve been following Successfool.com you’ll remember last year when my first daughter was born, we did a LIVE USTREAM the very next day and showed of my daughter Sadie Loren to the world!  (yes I was using Ustream back before it was “cool”)

That post was called “The Most Important Day Of My Life” and you can also see the live Ustream I entitled “Social Media’s First Baby”

Sarah, Sadie, and I are truly excited to welcome another addition into our crazy but fun family!

I feel like I’m gonna take over the world right now!

Family is EVERYTHING!!

COMMENTS WELCOME!

1 Year ago today my beautiful baby girl Sadie Loren Reyes came into this world.  That day completely changed my life FOREVER.  I wrote about “The Most Important Day Of My Life”

The day after she was born I did a Live Video Broadcast (go to 26:00 in the video below) for my friends and family and what happened next was pretty crazy.  You gotta understand that before this I had barely just started my blog and was trying to “make it happen” online…

I ended up tweeting that event and a lot of marketers, bloggers, & other folks from twitter ended up coming to watch this ustream.  This wasn’t a marketing ploy or anything, I was just really excited that I was able to utilize Social Media to show off Sadie to my friends and family.

The next day, I got soooooo many emails, tweets, dm’s, phone calls from people saying “Wow that was the coolest thing ever,” “I love your authenticy Alejandro” and my following online grew because of my daughter.  Pretty crazy huh?

Ever since then I knew that the key to making things happen in the Social Media arena is simple:  Be transparent, invite people into your life, and if you can put a smile on their face, you’ve won their hearts.

So I attribute a TON of my online success to my Sadie!

Sadie, I love you so much, you’ve changed mine and your Mother’s life FOREVER.  Happy Birthday Princess!!

Here’s some videos and some pictures of Sadie over the last year

Thanks!

=

The Video that started it all

sadie is dancing on 12seconds.tv

about to feed sadie & watch “From G’s to Gents” on 12seconds.tv

sadie just loves touching my face on 12seconds.tv

Sadie Loren is a Bee for Halloween. She has 3 other costumes on 12seconds.tv

Sadie trying to battle daddy on 12seconds.tv

Sadie dancing part deux on 12seconds.tv

sadie loves chris breezy on 12seconds.tv

sadie & daddy dancing on 12seconds.tv

Ever had one of those days when you notice that the only thing stopping you is you?!

One of the biggest assets for entrepreneurs and business leaders is the ability to silence self doubt and globalising, test assumptions & the like

The biggest win is often between the ears.

As a dominant visually wired guy, I have found my “portfolio of evidence” to be helpful for these moments.

The portfolio documents photos of wins, when I overcame (predominantly mental) obstacles that were a stretch or a fear.

The photos could be compiled in an album, or a slideshow or they may be displayed on a pin board in your strategy room.

The evidence will shut up those doubtful questions with definite proof that you can because you have!

It may be a captured moment of a presentation where you nailed it or when you closed a deal. On a personal level, you may have built or cooked something for the first time.

What story do you need to remind yourself of?

How can you capture it for the future?

Let the memorials spur us on, but may they spur us on to even greater endeavours so we don’t rely on the old stories or trophies like Al

Four touchdowns in one game!

Keep writing stories.

Keep creating portfolio volumes.

Today I would like to throw a third and final way we can approach our uniqueness into the mix.  I’m sure there are many other ideas so please share them with us via the comments or directly.  I hope you continue to see more opportunities for your teams, families and clients.  Thank you for your feedback.

I was recently asked to bring my 2 cents worth to a discussion regarding reward & recognition. An interesting point raised was different values placed on possible rewards, often motivated by demographic or our uniqueness.

For example, a young lady who is a few months out from getting married & moving out of home for the first time stated that she is motivated by shopping mall vouchers so she can set up home.

An older guy with school age kids may be motivated by paid time off so he can have the rare but valued experience of being the school taxi driver or even attending a mid day school event.

I think there is worth for our teams & families to explore this aspect of our wiring ie. incentives & motivations.

I value quality time together.  For my upcoming trip, I am keen on sitting in cafes & restaurants with particular people. Sure, I will see some sights along the way but for me, that’s bonus!

I have a friend who isn’t motivated by lengthy time together but gets “pumped up” by encouraging words.

What can we be intentional about today regarding reward, recognition, motivation & incentive?

Could it be affirmation, time together, or even giving something material/tangible?

]]> http://successfool.com/wired-part-3-of-3/feed/ 0 http://successfool.com/wired-part-2-of-3/ http://successfool.com/wired-part-2-of-3/#comments Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:19:24 +0000 Jason Ewart http://successfool.com/?p=573 Jason Ewart is a Sydney-based transformation writer and speaker who obliterated obesity & demolished debt.  

Previously we took a look at the DISC assessment

This gave us a framework to help us understand how ourselves and others are “wired”, and also to assist us in improving personal & work relationships.

After all, what is the cost for not improving working and personal relationships?

Today, we consider another framework that I have experienced value with, particularly in the arena of facilitating training.

It is known as VAKOG learning styles

It stands for Visual – Auditory – Kinesthetic – Olfactory – Gustatory.

Due to being “wired” differently, people learn in a variety of ways. Sometimes it is a combination of the above.

For example, I am a Visual/Kinesthetic learner.

Whiteboards, powerpoints and video work very well for me.

Notetaking helps me engage as I view a presentation and also get “hands on” by drawing diagrams, capturing quotes and writing questions inspired by the presenter.

Some people are able to learn effectively using a “lecture theatre” model. Others flourish in an “apprenticeship” environment, working alongside the “master”, getting their hands dirty.

I was able to tap into gustatory style during a presentation on meditating for an audience of young people. Equipped with my wife’s amazing cooking, I served up meditation or “chewing over” an idea from this angle. Using other resources, I also attempted to engage other learning styles at the same event.

Clients and team members are unique. Your tribe may be united by a product or service but a presentation of features and benefits or processes and systems may need to be delivered in a variety of ways.

What is the cost to your business for not discovering relevant learning styles?

Jason Ewart is a Sydney-based transformation writer and speaker who obliterated obesity & demolished debt.  

It was often said to me that “most of us are like the rest of us” . Even in our similarities, there is a uniqueness that you & I bring to our communities in areas from business to recreation.

What has helped me to extract potential from others & myself is discovering some things about the way that I am “wired”. This has assisted in honing in on strengths & removing hindrances.

My aim today is one of two things

1. You will discover a new lens for understanding how yourself, team mates & clients are “wired”.

2. You already have found benefit in using this and you are willing to share with us all by joining the conversation via the comments section

There is a tool available called DISC Assessment.

Let’s briefly look at the four frames

D = Dominant (Bold)

I = Influencing (Communicator)

S=Stable (Steady)

C = Compliant (Details)

D & C tend to be task driven. I & S are people oriented.

All four frames have strengths & weaknesses. (Read: the importance of teams/collaboration)

I would encourage you to explore the link, google & ponder as there is more to extract.

I will give you an example from my life on how this has added value.

The results of my survey indicated that I was a high D. Meditation of this result was very freeing. It explained a lot. In simple terms, I want things done & I want them done YESTERDAY!

INTERNALLY, impatience & unrealistic expectations were leading to frustration.

This is good to know as myself (along with my wife, team etc) are able to work with this toward eliminating frustrations.

EXTERNALLY, the potential is there to hurt people (ie. family, customers, co-collaborators) and also miss important details. The “C” people are great to have in my world!

I believe there is great benefit for discovering how ourselves, our families, our teams and our clients are “wired”.

Keep in mind, as my friend Dana Byers reminded me recently,

“knowledge of our own and other’s personality types must be used as a means to improve working and personal relationships but should never be used as a means of judging or manipulating others’ behavior.”

On that note, what is the cost for not improving working and personal relationships?

]]> http://successfool.com/wired-part-1-of-3/feed/ 3 http://successfool.com/have-you-tried-sushi/ http://successfool.com/have-you-tried-sushi/#comments Tue, 10 Feb 2009 09:31:01 +0000 Jason Ewart http://successfool.com/?p=408 Jason Ewart is a Sydney-based transformation writer and speaker who obliterated obesity & demolished debt.  

I love sushi!

I would be a richer sushi lover if I had a dollar for every time someone told me they didn’t like sushi AND when asked if they had tried it, responded with a definite NO!

What do you and I miss out on as individuals and in our businesses?

What could happen if we were willing to test assumptions?

Of course, we may not like the sushi but how will we know until we try some? We may just discover that we enjoy it.

What is the “sushi” in your business?

Is there something that you haven’t tried because you think it doesn’t “taste good” / isn’t effective?

Or maybe you are the one serving up the “sushi” to others?

Assumptions have the potential to be limiting.

Test assumptions. Take the sushi test.

1. Define your “sushi”

2. Taste/test the “sushi” (do this a few times) to determine if the assumption is fact.

3. Do not avoid other “Japanese foods” eg. Teppanyaki based on a negative test result as this would be another assumption.

4. Repeat process as you may discover a new interest, an asset for your business or throw off things that hinder progress.

Will you take the sushi test?

What is the cost to your business if you don’t take the test?

Tension will come. It’s not a question of if but when. As an entrepreneur, an innovator, a trailblazer you will definitely experience tension. Tension as you go against the grain. Tension as you front up to solve problems. Tension as you create despite the naysayers. You already know this. This current financial climate creates tension for many also.

So when it comes, what will we do?

Here are some of the value adding assets that I engage in trying times.

#1 – FUN.

Family, food, big laughs. We don’t even need to spend big to do it. Creativity is key. Unleash it.

Are we so locked into the tasks that we may have lost the fun?

#2 – STORIES matter.

Get fired up & fire up others.

What are you reading and writing?

Who do you hang with?

Connect on the net globally. Share applicable, relevant & inspiring linkage.

#3 – VOLUNTEER.

Live for something bigger than your project. Yes I know your project is “all that & a side of fries”. We are all biased like a loving father toward kids.

Continue to get involved in community. Serve. Love.

There are times to knuckle down on our “to do” lists but sometimes it pays to walk away (for a brief time).

I personally have found volunteering to be rewarding.  Not just tangible results of service, but the ideas that come to mind during it.

Have something on hand to collect the thoughts (journal, phone recorder etc)

#4 – INVEST.

Refuse to let today’s tensions limit tomorrow’s returns. Continue being generous.

Is there a potential collaboration opportunity?  Can that collaboration aid a community dilemma, solve a crisis or bring efficiency?

Coaching and mentoring?

What is in our hand? Are our hands open?

#5 – CORE CHECK.

How is your core?     Do you have margin for resilience?

During times of tension, what is inside will be squeezed out. Take some “me” time before to “set up”. That “me” time isn’t selfish. It would be if it was the only thing but that’s not you. That “me” time is wise if we are to have capacity for the long haul & in trying times.

Be like the ant in preparation for the winter.

What is your foundation or value system?

This list is obviously not exhaustive. It is just a few bites of what I bring into play in my world that have proven valuable.

What is the cost for NOT having a Tension Resilience Strategy?

What works for you?

Please invest this into us all by adding to the conversation here. My notepad is ready. Thank you in advance.

I talked before about why the bloggers are so important in media today. They are certainly a great outlet to get your word out.

So, getting the name of you, your product, service, blog, company, etc onto blogs is important for obvious reasons. You are getting exposure to new people and may even be getting traffic to your website. Both of those things are great.

But, reaching out to the bloggers has another excellent side benefit. Every time a blogger mentions you and puts a link to your website/blog in there, it’s a bit of light Search Engine Optimization. I’m not claiming to be an SEO expert, but I know that part of some SEO campaigns includes link-building. Google likes to see people sending links to your site.

Are a few blog hits going to catapult you to #1 in Google search engines. I really doubt it. But, you should always be thinking big picture and how to maximize your website.

So, keep this in mind when you are thinking about your PR campaign. Getting on television is awesome. A mention on the radio? Great! A two-paragraph quote in the Chicago Tribune is phenomenal. But, don’t forget about those bloggers. They can help in more ways than one.

I just wanted to say that I’m the absolutely luckiest guy EVER!  I blessed to have the best wife in the whole wide world EVERYDAY!  Today is my lovely wife Sarah’s 23rd Birthday.  Not only are we going to have a fun weekend, but I just wanted to publicly let Sarah know how much I love & appreciate her.

Thanks so much for being the best to me even though I’m insane sometimes and support all that I do even when it “doesn’t make sense.”

Thanks for being the best Mom ever to the prettiest little Princess on the planet, Sadie Loren.  Sadie loves you more than you know!!

You’re an amazing wife! (you’re the best mexican food cook in the whole wide world – yummerzzz)

An AMAZING Mother!! (Sadie is super lucky to have you as her mom)

Amazing sister in law (i’m so glad you and my sister ‘actually’ get along … haha)

An amazing sister! (you’re such a great big sister… hello the Uggs present )

An amazing daughter! (your parents secretly told me that you’re their favorite – JK ashley, rick, & caleb)

Amazing at having fun!

Very Sexy too

You’re just amazing in every way and I can’t wait to grow old with you!!