SharonMWeinstein Archives - Sharon M Weinstein

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:

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).
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).
Use visuals (I decided on a brief PowerPoint presentation with a built-in game
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)
Be sure to include “How to Order” in your slide deck and offer an explanation of both ordering and reviewing processes
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!

December 17, 2020 By Sharon Weinstein

It’s your CHOICE…postponed or canceled

Henry Miller tells us that, “Life, as it is called, is for most of us one long postponement.” The pandemic shifted many of our lives, postponing, and sometimes canceling booked events, meetings, conferences, and family gatherings. It’s one thing to postpone a meeting or event; it is another thing to put our dreams on hold. What gets in the way of our dreams, and causes us to hold off? How about time, money, family responsibilities, work priorities (if you are still employed), health challenges, fear of change, and uncertainty?

What’s holding you back and keeping you from getting better? Jim Rohn tells us, “Things don’t get better by chance; they get better by change.” I prefer, “Things don’t get better by chance; they get better by CHOICE.” So, what choice will you make as we approach a New Year and a chance to reset our respective buttons?

Refine your “Brand.” Personal branding is a brand called you; it conveys your work, your style, and your purpose. Make a CHOICE to commit to your brand in 2021 and beyond. Make a CHOICE to avoid postponements and cancellations, and advance to become the best version of yourself. Make a CHOICE to not allow people, places, and things to interfere with your dreams! Let’s make 2021 the year to overcome disruption, enhance well-being, and enjoy life!

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?

May 19, 2020 By Sharon Weinstein

Keep your Distance…but stay close!

What a change a pandemic can make! Covid-19 has wreaked havoc in our daily lives, disrupted business and the economy, and taken its toll on human lives. What more can we expect, and how can we keep our distance, yet remain close?

I think about a colleague whose dad is quite ill; she needs to be at his bedside, and she is unable to be there, to have a presence, to provide support. I think about how that makes her feel, and I am saddened by her inability to be physically close. I think about my career as a nurse and how how the opportunity to hold a hand, to wipe a forehead, and to smile beyond a mask brought joy to those for whom I provided care, as well as to me.

I think about today’s students at all levels of their education who are having a transformational experience…whose connection is across networks, and who are learning as much about life as they are about required core curriculum. I think about the Class of 2020: the 3.7 million high school seniors for whom natural trauma has been a constant. Born right after 9/11; they were fifth graders during Sandy Hook, and they were sophomores when a gunman attacked Marjorie Stoneman High School in Parkland, FL. Our country has been at war since they were born, and the current war, the Coronavirus Pandemic, has reinforced life’s lessons that change happens.

I think about those on the frontlines, the healthcare workers, first responders and all of those who are working in “essential industries,” who risk their lives and those of their loved ones each and every day so that we may remain safe.

As controls are lifted, and as some communities venture out into a new type of normal, please consider these best practices for distancing:

Limit your time in public; schedule your outings carefully
Keep your distance
Bring hand sanitizer; continue to wear gloves
Wash your hands
Cover your mouth; wear a mask to protect others

Remain close with phone calls to friends and loved ones, video chats, virtual game night (bring out those board games and decks of cards), virtual movie night, exercise videos and workouts online, mindfulness activities, and video games that connect you locally and globally. Use your devices to connect, to see others, to celebrate birthdays and milestones, and to stay connected. Keep your distance…but stay close!

March 20, 2020 By Sharon Weinstein

Life as a Balancing Act…working/schooling at home

Coronavirus has given us a new appreciation for our “spaces.” While many of us are fortunate to have a designated home office, others are not. While some have a designated play space for kids that can be converted in to a mini-schoolroom, others do not. What can you do to keep the balance while confined during this pandemic?

Tips from B is for Balance, 2^nd edition offers this advice:

Create a Designated Work Area at Home

When you are in your home “office,” that’s the time to work, to respond to calls, complete electronic banking, update social media, and reply to electronic mail. When you are finished, walk away from the office and computer. Set aside specific times for checking messages. Then, reward yourself with personal time.

Master Efficiency

Many of us are teleworking; keep in mind that many professionals find it difficult to adjust to working from home, even those who have done it forever. The freedom of working in casual clothing (or not getting out of your pajamas), of not reporting for work at a specific time, and of not being directly supervised by others creates an environment that may become lax. You must be responsible for your own efficiency, effectiveness, and efforts. Is your work environment efficient and ergonomically correct? Does it lend itself to a high level of productivity in a short time span? Are you a morning person—someone who works best in the early hours of the day? Set a schedule to plan your work at home, and then work according to your plan.

Manage your Time Wisely

You schedule appointments with other people in your personal planner, so why not schedule time with yourself? Make appointments for regular exercise or meditation (even more now than ever before). Regardless of whom we are and what we do, we still have the same 24 hours in each day. Do you delegate, or you the one who must do it all to get it right?

Know What Is Important and Why

In his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey showed that for many of us, the day is filled with tasks that attract our attention and seem urgent, but they may never need to be done. Weed those out and make time for the important tasks. The important duties that are also urgent require our immediate attention. Learn to prioritize. Know which of the things you must complete today, or this week, are most important and engage in systems that can help you to stick to your schedule. This is a great time to master prioritization; you may be “in” for quite some time.

Identify homeschool space

Perhaps your peers have homeschooled for years; suddenly, you find yourselves in the same situation, and by chance, rather than choice. Identify a dedicated space where your child or children can work on class assignments with good lighting, connectivity, and a sense of ownership. Encourage downtime, and recess; for yourselves and your kids.

And, for those of you out of work, again not by choice, and struggling with what to do to maintain a sense of calm, I offer these tips:

No one knows you better than you; work that to your advantage
Become a master of efficiency
Identify those areas of life most important for your well-being and balance and integrate them within your lifestyle
Know your limits
Treat yourself with kindness

What matters most is, do your best! There is no playlist…hundreds of thousands of moms, dads, and grandparents will be forced to balance homeschooling with their day-to-day work responsibilities. Life is a balancing act─ now more than ever before. All of us need downtime…be sure that you take the time in your day to appreciate life, be grateful, and be kind.

To start the process: