Sharon M Weinstein

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January 30, 2021 By Sharon Weinstein

How to Host a Virtual Book Launch Party…vision to reality

Are You Ready to Reinvent Yourself? A Post-Pandemic Approach to Work/Life Balance was a vision on December 15th, 2020 that became a reality on January 28th, 2021!  I had the content (in my head), the mindset, and the goal to complete the process and to make it shine!  While my Launch Party would have been live, with cocktails, snacks, a book signing, and so much more, I needed to push my own “reset” and “repurpose” my ideas into something virtual.

My first stop was Google, where I reviewed ideas, past experiences, and failures. My second stop was YouTube, where I perused party ideas, virtual offerings, games, and so much more!  My third stop was my own designer, computer, home office, and my talented family members; together, we created something incredibly special that far exceeded expectations.

Step One: Create branded graphics 

For this step, I went to Kimb Williams, an extraordinary graphic designer who “reads” me. She created the front and back cover, promo materials for the book launch and party, banners for Facebook, and everything imaginable. I said balloons, and she delivered customized balloons!  I said virtual background depicting a party, and she went to work creating templates that far exceeded my expectations!  I created an invitational video, multiple social media posts, direct messaging, and email blasts.

Step Two: Pick a date/time

Chances are that you’ve already scheduled your launch; the party date is next. Make it a date/time of the week that works across timezones. Make it something that would be before dinner Pacific Time, and after an early dinner Eastern Time. With no carpool runs and other errands, everyone is fairly certain to be at home!  I scheduled the party on Zoom and started promoting the event 10-12 days prior to the event. I asked those interested to respond, “I’m in” via text, messaging, or email. I also added a response button to each of my websites.

Step Three: Plan the schedule 

I considered multiple ideas and settled on these key components to a successful launch party:

  1. Consider pre-planted questions about your inspiration, your why your intended outcomes (I did not need them because I had the right mix of people at the party and they asked without prompting).
  2. Prepare a story that will capture your audience’s attention and make them feel included; frame it well (This was easy for me; at another time in my life, I worked 100 hours per week/3 countries per week, and I found balance. I also used my nursing platform to reinvent myself multiple times in multiple states and roles).
  3. Use visuals (I decided on a brief PowerPoint presentation with a built-in game
  4. Ask someone to co-host or share the screen to keep things rolling smoothly, and to allow yourself to relax (I asked a family member to co-host; she also recreated the game on her own PC, added the names, branding, confetti, and applause while entertaining everyone)
  5. Be sure to include “How to Order” in your slide deck and offer an explanation of both ordering and reviewing processes
  6. Rehearse prior to the event with your tech team (family member or friend) to ensure that everything works well

Step Four: Invite your guests 

I invited a broad group of potential guests, some of whom were unable to attend. I also opened it via social media to those with an interest, asking them to reach out to me. I created and used lots of hashtags to spur interest and curiosity.  Trust me, the right people were in the right seats (in their own homes) at the right time). Everyone who responded favorably received a pdf copy of the book.

Step Four: Start and end strong

The internet connection was strong (a pre-requisite), the background was amazing (thanks to Kimb), and the Zoom room looked full with nearly everyone visible. Following my lead with a glass of sparkling white grape juice, the tone was set for reflection, reinvention, and fun!  I extended warm welcomes and intros and then we shared the presentation. I had pre-selected a few segments to read aloud, and because we were virtual, I opted to add a few words to a slide and to share using that tool. The content included a favorite quote, a reason for Trusting the Process (Part 8), the intro to my story of Reinventing Yourself the Kellogg Way, and more.  We then played Spinthewheel, identified an Amazon Giftcard Winner, and everyone was given a chance to add to the conversation. Through open networking, and my ability to draw each individual into the conversation, the party was a huge success.

Step Five: Celebrate success 

I followed up immediately after the event with a personalized email message and an updated copy of the book. I recorded a thank-you video that was shared with each attendee. The video and the success story was posted on multiple social media outlets; since then, I’ve received great interest in the book, in my other releases, and in my work. Take advantage of my lessons learned; adapt what works for you to create your own Virtual Book Launch Party, and have fun!

Filed Under: Advisory, C-Suite, Celebrations, CEO, Coaching, Consulting, GPS, How to Host, Meeting Planners, Public speaking, Publishing, Stressbuster, Success, Virtual Book Launch Party, Work-Life Balance, Writing for publication Tagged With: balance, Book launch, enrich, goal-setting, personal development, SharonMWeinstein, SMWGroup, Stress, Virtual

September 6, 2020 By Sharon Weinstein

What’s in a credential?

You see lots of letters after someone’s name, and you wonder what they might stand for! Perhaps your search for those acronyms leads to a discovery that your new friend or peer is a highly credentialed professional.  They are “Certified.” Certification is an earned recognition that demonstrates specific skills, knowledge, expertise in a given area. Usually aligned with a profession, technology, or industry, the credential is usually awarded by a professional organization or credentialing body.

A professional certificate, like many offered online, is not the same thing as professional certification. Certificates are not all equal…and those who have earned the highly regarded credential are honored to be recognized.  According to the American Association for Legal Nurse Consultants, certificates and certification are very different.

Certification
  • Results from an assessment process that recognizes an individual’s knowledge, skills, and competency in a particular specialty
  • Typically requires professional experience
  • Awarded by a third-party, standard-setting organization, typically not for profit
  • Indicates mastery/competency as measured against a defensible set of standards, usually by application or exam
  • Standards set through a defensible, industry-wide process (job analysis/role delineation) that results in an outline of required knowledge and skills
  • Typically results in credentials to be listed after one’s name (LNCC, ONC, CCRN)
  • Has on-going requirements in order to maintain; holder must demonstrate he/she continues to meet requirements

 

Certificate
  • Results from an educational process
  • For newcomers and experienced professionals
  • Awarded by educational programs or institutions often for-profit
  • Indicates completion of a course or series of courses with a specific focus (different than a degree-granting program)
  • Course content determined by the specific provider or institution, not standardized
  • Usually listed on a resume detailing education
  • Demonstrates knowledge of course content at the end of a set period of time

Let me provide an example that is critically important to me. The Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) is an earned credential.  The CSP credential offers skill validation from clients, peers, meeting professionals, and other CSPs. It adds opportunities to command greater fees and to develop new and sustainable connections. It also showcases the designees, allowing them to shine on paper as much as on the platform, in the training room, or in the virtual studio. The CSP designation is the speaking profession’s highest earned international measure of professional platform competence. Less than 17% of National Speakers Association members worldwide have achieved the CSP designation. With support from NSA’s CSP Committee, the CSP is conferred by the NSA Board of Directors upon qualifying members of NSA as well as upon qualifying members of the 16 Global Speakers Federation (GSF) associations. For me, earning the CSP credential was a milestone; it was not my first credential, nor will it be my last. As Chair of NSA’s CSP Committee, I’m pleased to announce that on September 4th, candidates for the CSP Class of 2021 were encouraged to begin the application process. https://www.nsaspeaker.org/csp/. 

Certification is an earned recognition that demonstrates specific skills, knowledge, expertise in a given area. When you see lots of letters after someone’s name, take note of what each acronym stands for, and realize how hard they worked to earn that credential. What about you? If you are a speaking professional, are you prepared to apply for the highest earned international measure of professional platform competence – the CSP?

The application process begins now…for professional members of the National Speakers Association (NSA) or one of the Global Speakers Federation (GSF) member associations.  Will you be certified? 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Acronyms, Certification, Credentials, Meeting Planners, National Speakers Association, Nursing, Public speaking, Talent Management Tagged With: Certified Speaking Professional, CSP, Earned designation, goal-setting, International measure of competence, Milestones matter, National Speakers Association, personal development, SharonMWeinstein, Skill validation, speaker

October 28, 2019 By Sharon Weinstein

Let’s talk stress numbers…

What are those numbers?

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 60-70% of all disease and illness is stress-related.
  • Approximately 75  to 90% of physician-office visits are stress-related.
  • According to the American Institute of Stress, a whopping $300 billion dollars per year is spent on job stress, including absenteeism, turnover, diminished productivity, and medical/legal/insurance costs.

What about you?

If you are busy with a demanding job and family and friends who seek your time and attention, you are blessed, but only if you can handle it. Consider the stressors in your own life, including the things that deplete your energy and bring you down.

When your devices are on low battery, do you plug them in? When your vehicle needs fuel, do you fill the tank? What about your most vulnerable commodity – your body – what do you do for it?

You may be a workaholic like I was; I thought the day was thirty hours long. I tried to fit a schedule into each of those hours to achieve life to the fullest, and my strategy did not work! As one who has reinvented myself professionally throughout my career, I am aware of the challenges of work/life balance. I worked long hours and I always felt as if something was missing…and that something was family time. Balancing a career or business with your personal life is possible.  Are You Ready to Recharge Your Battery? offers actions you can take to build the life and career you want, need, and deserve.

We need to recharge- so get set, get ready, and let’s go. We’ll explore the process of engaging in life and work, prepare for change and a charge, manage time and resources, and reinvent ourselves.  The process begins here and now, with content and action steps at the end of each section that empower to act, recover, and restore to a full charge.

Now is the time to enjoy Are You Ready to Recharge Your Battery? and then pay it forward by sharing the message with your peers through an amazing Amazon or Good Reads review. For your electronic copy, contact me now.

 

Filed Under: CEO, CFO, CIO, Coaching, Consulting, Health & Wellness, Human Resources, Meeting Planners, Resilience, Work-Life Balance, Workplace Stress Tagged With: balance, commitment, Encouragement, Fatigue, SharonMWeinstein, Stress, time management

October 8, 2019 By Sharon Weinstein

Launching….what?

ARE YOU READY FOR A WOWTCOME™? 

ARE YOU READY TO JOIN MY LAUNCH TEAM FOR…

The New Book?

If you answered “Yes” to any of those questions, launch with me!  You might ask, “Launching, what does that mean, what are my responsibilities, how may I help, who shall I tell…”

My new book, Are You Ready to Recharge Your Battery? Secrets to work/life balance was just released. My marketing team created a launch strategy six weeks out that would propel my book to the top of the charts. Their efforts included social media advertising, promotional campaigns, promo videos, outreach, and so much more.

The field is crowded; many new releases fall into the same category, limiting the potential for exposure.

Each year a huge number of new book titles are written and published (https://www.theifod.com/how-many-new-books-are-published-each-year-and-other-related-books-facts/). According to Stephen Hawking in his recent book Brief Answers to the Big Questions, he states that “if you stacked the new books being published next to each other, at the present rate of production you would have to move at ninety miles an hour just to keep up with the end of the line.”

How, then, does a book “launch?”  How do we spread the word, join the team, promote the efforts, disseminate the message, and create energy?  I’ve launched, and multiple book signings are scheduled this month and next.  Enjoy this video promo, and let’s get this launch going…  https://www.dropbox.com/s/legooz8osegotz5/sharonweinstein%20_overwhelm%20book%20promo.mp4?dl=0

Tell me more…

If you are busy with a demanding job and family and friends who seek your time and attention, you are blessed, but only if you can handle it. Consider the stressors in your own life, including the things that deplete your energy and bring you down.

We need to recharge our batteries—so get set, get ready, and let’s go! We’ll explore the process of engaging in life and work, prepare for a change and a charge, manage time and resources, and reinvent ourselves. The process begins here and now, with content and action steps at the end of each section that empower you to act, recover, and restore a full charge!

Where will you be in six months if you don’t start now?

If overwhelm knows where to find you, including where you live, then Are You Ready is for you!

If Are You Ready describes you, I need you on my Launch Team!

What’s involved?

  • Get a free electronic copy of Are You Ready
  • Read some of it prior to October 30th to get my message
  • Add your sincere review on Amazon.com (directions provided)
  • Tell everyone you know with overwhelm at their doorstep to get a copy and recharge
  • Receive a free gift for your participation

Are You Ready and Are You In?

Join the launch by emailing me at sharon@sharonmweinstein.com

 

Filed Under: Advisory, C-Suite, Celebrations, CEO, CFO, CIO, Coaching, Consulting, Health & Wellness, Human Resources, Meeting Planners Tagged With: balance, commitment, Educate, empower, Encouragement, goal-setting, personal development, SharonMWeinstein, Stress

March 24, 2019 By Sharon Weinstein

Are you a meeting planner with too much to do?

Achieving More by Doing Less…what meeting planners need to know-

  • Are you kidding me?
  • Is this even possible?
  • How can I make it happen?
  • When do I start?

Work-life or workday balance…what is it and why does it matter? Whose responsibility is it? As meeting planners and team players, we share the responsibility of implementing strategies to ensure work-life balance.

Annual conferences, regional meetings…they spell long days, long weeks, and the need to be on- all the time with multiple responsibilities pulling you in multiple directions!  There is so much to do and so little time! How can you achieve more and do less?

Is all this a cliché or is it reality? In today’s environment, it certainly seems that it is indeed our reality – a reality of the times in which we live and our expansive scope of work. Balancing work and personal life can be a challenging task. Are you prepared for the challenge?

Is your performance impaired because you are out of balance?  Are you caught up in the balancing act, unable to do it all and care only for others in your lives without caring for yourself?  You are only as good as you are balanced! If you do not take the time for yourself – yes, even with the array of responsibilities pressuring you now – you will not be the best that you can be. That personal best includes you as parent, partner, friend, partner, professional, educator or event manager. That personal best is what will enable you to reach new heights in your career, to achieve your goals and to maintain your health.

It will start with a successful conference or meeting, allowing you to achieve more and do less, minus the stress. To learn about the five steps needed for balance, opt into https://smwgroupllc.com and receive the secret tool that will get you to, and through, that next meeting.

Filed Under: Advisory, CEO, CMP, Coaching, Health & Wellness, Meeting Planners, Public speaking, Work-Life Balance, Workplace Stress Tagged With: balance, commitment, goal-setting, long hours, SharonMWeinstein, SMWGroup, speaker, time management, Wellness

To start the process:

  • Please complete the contact form or email Sharon directly at info@sharonmweinstein.com.
  • Visit Sharon’s Consulting site for information about work/life balance programs and services, as well as an extensive client list by category.
  • You may also reach Sharon by phone at 202.798.0092.
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