Moving From Me To We.com

“Even You Can Draw It So They Quickly Understand, Kare”

Kare Anderson — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 22:19:43 +0000

In art class we were asked to draw a familiar object. I picked something simple. A tire. No one could recognize it. And yet, after reading The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures I was able to draw a description of SmartPartnering and another on storyboarding.

Let people literally see your idea to adopt it faster or to buy. Read this fun book by Dan Roam. Dan gives you a method based on our six ways of seeing: (more…)

How Our Tech Helps Us Get Along - or Not

Kare Anderson — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:09:28 +0000

Bluntly speaking, we are more likely to cooperate in a group when those who don’t get punished. “Darwin had a blind spot. It wasn’t that he didn’t see the role of cooperation in evolution. He just didn’t see how important it is.” Little has changed until relatively recently. (more…)

Where’s Matt? (and we don’t mean Lauer)

Kare Anderson — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:27:53 +0000

More importantly, what’s his secret to attracting exuberant crowds? Can we bottle it? Thanks Garr Reynolds for introducing us to Matthew Harding.

Two Ways to Collaborate to Bring the Best Out in Each Other

Kare Anderson — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:08:30 +0000

When mentoring goes both ways it’s one of the richest experiences one can have, noted Ben Casnocha in his book, My Start-Up Life. Crediting a long line of wise guides, Casnocha, who founded Comcate at age 14, called today’s interviewee, Chris Yeh, a mentor’s mentor. We’ll also hear from Kristine Molnar at PBwiki, one of his start-ups.

1. Mentoring in the Most Powerful Way

In today’s interview you’ll hear about the far-reaching benefits of deep, two-way guidance. Some effects ripple out beyond the original (more…)

If you only read one story on Guantanamo …

Kare Anderson — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:05:01 +0000

… please read this one. If Gutman, Lasseter and Schofield don’t get a Pulitzer I’ll be surprised. They “traveled to 11 countries to interview 66 freed Guantanamo and Afghanistan prison detainees.”

“No one would accept it if a local prosecutor used sleep deprivation and attack dogs to coerce (more…)

“what the Brady Bunch would be like …

Kare Anderson — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 21:19:48 +0000

… if they lived in communist Russia,” is how an anonymous employee described his company culture. Guess which company.

Also, want to know what your boss’ home is worth? And how much does she make? From some of the folks who enabled you to discover the answer to the first question you may now be able to learn the answer to the second. Taking on two work taboo topics, the start-up, glassdoor, aims is to help job seekers get a real (more…)

Turning Your Experience Into a Convivial & Profitable Business

Kare Anderson — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:07:43 +0000

From stay-at-home Mom to art teacher to designer of exquisite Ukrainian eggs to author of a book that lands her on The Today Show. That’s quite career ride.

Better still, it led Jane Pollak to her dream job.

Jane provides what’s probably the single most successful Me2We tool you’ll ever find. The mastermind group. She’s belonged to one for 16 years. Now, she organizes and leads them – and you can too. (more…)

Be remembered. Be Brief.

Kare Anderson — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:26:21 +0000

• “Bank fees are like financial wedgies.”

• “One of the founding fathers of rock and roll has left the building he helped construct.”

• “Eat food, not too much, mostly vegetables.”

Guess which of those colorful one-liners you’re most likely to remember - and repeat to others? Here’s hints for honing your quotability, but first a few more pithy examples.

“Darlings, make blogs, not war.” That’s Adrianna Huffington’s 2007 acceptance speech at the Webby awards. Winners are limited to five words.

Asked to write a six-word short story, Ernest Hemingway gave us, “For sale: baby shoes, never used.” Recently, Wired asked sci-fi writers for stories. Life’s too short for long speeches, quickly forgotten, J.K. Rowling told Harvard. In a time-starved world, brevity becomes popular.

Here’s some six-word autobiographies, from the conversation-starter of a book, Not Quite What I Was Planning: (more…)

Support Your Cause or Hobby With Maps Mashups and Widgets

Kare Anderson — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:23:23 +0000

Want concrete ways to become more successful with others than you can on your own? Then adapt a real life Me2We-captured success story and underlying method to your work or life situation. Every few days you’ll find fresh examples here, taken from one of the blogs on Links, our blog roll. Here’s your first one:

Create Community with Maps Mashups and Widgets

Overlay your information on a google map so people you seek to serve can click on geographical places to learn more. Your information-on-a-map creation is a one kind of mashup. Here’s how to make one.

Jump on this wildly popular and versatile find-it tool. For inspiration, see 100 interesting things via google maps mashups. Find, for example, locations for extreme sports, breweries or public toilets (a connection?). And talk about timely! At Mike Pegg’s blog find the cheapest gas.

What kind of maps mashups could you create that would motivate others to add their geo-based (more…)

Become a Reporter on the World’s Biggest Channel

Kare Anderson — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:18:23 +0000

Like to cover a concert, political campaign or a boycott as you see it, literally? Want to give your slant on your local back roads? How about recruiting some friends and creating a weekly show around your favorite hobby or other interest?

YouTube just made it easer to attract an audience to video programs you produce. Become a part of their new Citizen News Channel. (more…)

Be Quoted When a Reporter Covers Your Kind of Story

Kare Anderson — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 03:18:17 +0000

Other than inadvertently becoming part of a scandal, crisis or other notably bad or good news, here’s the most likely method for becoming part of a media story – in a positive way. Get briefed on stories for which reporters, producers or bloggers are seeking input – right now.

For $99 a month, get PR Leads, a daily email of updates, customized for your situation. Dan Janal is diligent and savvy. He depends on happy referrals to get more business. Two other popular media matching services are free. (more…)

How a Coffee Event Attracts More People & You Can Too

Kare Anderson — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 13:37:31 +0000

Some of the most masterful baristas in the U.S. gathered in a hotel lobby in Minneapolis for their annual competition last month, judged by their peers. But this year was different. More excitement. And pressure. Coffee growers, café owners and other baristas and coffee lovers from around the world can watch them perform. In real time and later. (Congrats Kyle Glansville!) Observers can share comments or photos.

Consider this story a free, mini-seminar: How to involve more people and sponsors in your event. Be the first person in your kind of industry or profession to adapt this approach for your gathering. Your “first ever” might attract media coverage too. Here’s what happened. (more…)

A Natural Way to Network at “Our” Conference

Kare Anderson — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 10:54:35 +0000

“Did you go there on vacation?” “I rode on that bike ride for breast cancer too.” “Oh, you went to that meeting too?” Walking around the conference halls, with your favorite tote bag over your shoulder is like carrying a mini-billboard about some (more…)

Let’s All Play Games and Learn Together

Kare Anderson — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:18:34 +0000

Did you enjoy sitting in a classroom, listening to the teacher in front of the room? Farvood Nivi is betting you didn’t. (I daydreamed a lot.)

Nivi has a bleak view of education: “The established method of applying manufacturing assembly methods to students is not working. If it was, then there wouldn’t be illiterate graduates and almost all students would meet standards.”Venture capitalists are backing Nivi’s “mysterious” yet “better way:” Provide an engrossing online game, “where (more…)

Embarrassing Accidents, Oversharing and Real Connection

Kare Anderson — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:24:35 +0000

Those mortifying accidents. Stephen J. Dubner unleashed a pent-up flood of guilt and shame from readers of his New York Times column last month. Ever written an email, then sent it in haste … to the wrong person? Or cc’d people who shouldn’t have seen your candid message? Or mistakenly received an email that was not meant for your eyes? Within days after Dubner told his tale, 166 readers shared their stories of regret, outrage and (more…)

How many speakers and panelists really want to know…

Kare Anderson — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 22:18:34 +0000

… what attendees are saying about their presentation – in real time, no less?
You better pay attention to what that crowd in front of you may be silently texting to each other, according to one thoughtful social media thought leader, Rohit Bhargava. In fact, he gives six reasons why you should follow the Twitter conversation in your audience. And, he advises you, to (more…)

Reduce Your Risk in Hiring the Right Designer

Kare Anderson — Sat, 31 May 2008 23:08:14 +0000

A big stumbling block in hiring the graphic designer who most “gets” your business is this. You won’t know if you’ll like the design until after you put your money down. The smaller your business and budget the greater the risk it seems.

That’s how it works at two popular places, ifreelance and Elance. Buyer post requests for designs. Designers submit proposals. Buyer hires a designer, then waits to see the results.

This month, crowdSPRING, an online business launched to level that risk. It (more…)

3D Breakthrough Changes How We Meet, Share, Buy & Play

Kare Anderson — Sat, 31 May 2008 15:47:46 +0000

He was in Bangalore and his co-presenters were in San Jose, yet Cisco’s CEO appeared live - on the same stage. How? By using a breathtaking 3D holographic-like technology. They tout it as, “the world’s first real time virtual presentation. Aptly, it’s called TelePresence.

See Sir Richard Branson – live at a London press conference, while standing at Necker Island, his Caribbean retreat. Or (more…)

Can Do Kids: Formula For Jumpstarting a Business and a Cause

Kare Anderson — Fri, 30 May 2008 19:14:29 +0000

Usually companies start supporting causes after being in business awhile. Now some are starting a business for a cause. Like Ethos, Newman’s Own and Can Do Kids. The “do good” message is central to the business model. The cause is as important as the profits. Coaching three start-ups was a joy. Can Do Kids energy bar ceo, Deborah Churchill Luster’s message appears everywhere in her business. Like Kris Bordessa, she believes in engendering self-confidence, cooperation and competence in young people. Making it fun too. I met Deborah, (more…)

Do Your Best Work Together. Give it Away. Make Money.

Kare Anderson — Thu, 29 May 2008 18:20:16 +0000

Give away downloadable, eco-friendly house plans – and make money? Others could adapt this startup’s healthy Me2We path to profitability, using their kind of expertise. Plus you could enjoy the camaraderie that comes from collaborating on projects that benefit people around the world.

Here’s the story. Working with the highest-rated makers of home construction materials, FreeGreen, a winning, new company of architects, designers and engineers creates plans for green homes, right down to the last design detail. Plans include 3-D images, alternative design combinations, product reviews including information about energy efficiencies, specific to your choice of plans and products – and to your city.

Just launched, the start-up offers two plans. One, a healthy home for young families and another, a loft for down-sizers or first-time buyers. FreeGreen makes money from the paid placement of products within the plans. Vital to their success, they only pick products that have high ratings or reviews from unbiased third parties. Another small revenue stream comes from customizing plans.

FreeGreen will grow as the number of plans they offer grows, they attract more downloads and can justify higher fees for placement. Word spreads fast. Also in recommending another firm for complete customization, they recognize that SmartPartnering generates more value for everyone. This for-profit model and Architecture for Humanity could cross-consult on ways to download plans, reduce the costs of green construction and grow the movement about eco-friendly building.

This is a wonderful opportunity for local, sustainable construction firms to partner with FreeGreen. Offer to construction the homes, as Springwise points out.

Here’s other ways to adapt this Me2We business model. Are you a fan of eco-healthy buildings? Do you own a brick and mortar business such as an inn, childcare center, travel store or pet hospital and hotel. Then you probably went through a learning curve about all the licensing, regulations, systems for conducting your business, from how you plan your day, do you bookkeeping and taxes to promoting your business. Over the years you’ve bought many products and services for your business, some of which you’ve loved. Every company on your favorites list that can sell, at least nationally, is a possible paid product placement - as are the professional associations to which you belong.

Now, profit from your experience:

• Create a great “how to” guide for others who want to jump-start a business like yours.

• Consider partnering with a local architect with “green” experience. Co-create downloadable design plans to package with your downloadable how-to guide.

• Start a blog about your unfolding business, with an extensive blog roll.

• If you’re the first in your kind of work to create this kind of FreeGreen spin-off then you’ll probably make news. Get slightly famous. Remember to praise FreeGreen for the inspiration.

Get Slightly Famous? Where’s Your Tribe?

Kare Anderson — Tue, 27 May 2008 23:40:30 +0000

Seth Godin’s promise to put 1,000 faces on the cover of his next book, Tribe, reminded me of two other crowd pleasers:• the top-of-heads photo on (more…)

What Most Worries Women? Getting Fat or…?

Kare Anderson — Mon, 26 May 2008 13:30:05 +0000

This news is sad, yet not surprising. As women, we are more concerned about our weight (56%) and eating right (36%) than we are worried about getting (more…)

Collaborate Towards a Single Goal. Expect the Unexpected.

Kare Anderson — Sat, 24 May 2008 00:46:24 +0000

More than your solitary smarts, your capacity to do something extraordinary depends on something else. It is your ability to build on the work of others from the past or with others at the same time. So said Malcolm Gladwell at last year’s New Yorker conference. This may be a key theme in Outliers: Why Some People Succeed and Some Don’t“, his next book, due out this November.

Here’s some of Gladwell’s related insights:

• To gain mastery (more…)