Build Your Own Social Network

Today’s Feature Social Network: Ning

Ning, a social media site, is quietly changing the face of social networking. While it has been around since 2004, Fast Company recently featured Ning co-founder and CEO Gina Bianchini on their cover and in April of this year there was speculation that Ning’s value was then approximately half a billion dollars (not that this is unusual in the world of a $1 billion YouTube purchase). Ning sites are extremely easy to navigate and they look and function very much like a lot of social networking sites that are open to the general public. There are existing Ning groups for every conceivable interest and Ning is continuing to build momentum.

You may be asking, “Why is a discussion about creating a “personal” social network important or even relevant to lawyers or lawyerpreneurs?” Well … creating or joining a Ning community around a topic that is of interest to your industry or that relates to your subject matter expertise is simply another great way that social networks can be used to build community, your professional brand and showcase your expertise … all resulting in increased business opportunities.

Ning is a powerful tool because it allows you to develop a network (Ning supplies all that you need … except the contacts) instead of just hooking into more “general” communities like Facebook and LinkedIn.

Ning is also extremely easy to use! For example, if you want to create a special network for colleagues, leaders in your industry or maybe people who are interested in your areas of specality, you would first reserve the name for your community (which will be hosted on the Ning service for F*REE), select the networking tools you want to be available to members (forum, photos, music, events, text, etc) and then select a template design.

This entire process takes less than 5 minutes and allows you to create a really professional interface for your social networking community.   Once you’ve created your community, you are free to invite colleagues, friends and clients to your new “professional” community, start discussions, schedule events and even further customize the look and feel of the website (ifyou so desire) by updating the template with HTML.   It’s just that simple!   If you like the idea of creating your own social community, but have no desire to do the formation legwork (regardless of how easy it is) just let me know in the comment section and I’m happy to make a recommendation.

UpwardAction® SuccessWork:

I have five questions for your consideration.

1.  Do you know where your “ideal clients” spend their time - both online and in-person?’

2.  If yes, are you making valuable contributions in those places?

3.   If you don’t know the answer to question one, how can you find out?

4.   What needs to happen for you to show up in the places that are most powerful for your business development and that supports your authentic-self?

5.   What else needs to happen?

Always - Expect the Best!

Coach T.C.


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Getting Over “The Dip”


Whether you’ve just made partner, you are starting your own firm, or you are jumping the traditional legal ship entirely, Seth Godin says you are going to encounter “The Dip” if you are indeed on the “right” path. I call this your “divinely inspired path”.

Persevering through “difficult” times, filled with learning curves and various challenges, is what separates highly successful people from … well, everyone else.

According to Seth, all ventures experience “the dip” and to be successful you must be able to distinguish a “dip” from a “cul-de-sac” (dead end) or “cliff” (failure disguised as success).

Cul-de-sacs never get better and represent the “dreams” that you need to abandon, most likely because you were never on “your” right path in the first place.

Seth advocates what most people do not … quitting! He also reminds us of the value of quitting when in a cul-de-sac (you’ll never get better) and doing this as frequently as necessary until you are headed in “your” right direction. I agree … if you are not on your divinely inspire path, stop spinning your wheels so that you can find what you are truly meant to be doing with your energy and your life.

Strive to be the best at what you do, and if you cannot, do something else! This could be a simple as changing your practice area, as complex as moving to a new firm, agency or company - or as drastic as leaving the legal professional altogether.

There are no huge, new insights in this short motivatioal book, but instead reminders of how to “quit” successfully. Seth explores the statistical benefits of being one of the best at what you do and how to push through “the dip” to the other side where success resides.

This is a really good book. I highly recommend that you check it out!

Today we’re a feature a new segment that you’ll see in most of our posts - UpwardAction® SuccessWork.

Because I am a business coach, in addition to being a corporate attorney, I want to make certain that you can use the information covered in this blog accelerate your professional success. One of the best ways to do this is through coaching. So, my gift to all of my LawMapping readers is a bit of free coaching. J So … get ready for self-discovery and professional growth via our (at least weekly) UpwardAction® SuccessWork segment.

Let’s get started!

UpwardAction® SuccessWork:

Spend no less than 15 minutes today considering if you are in a dip, cul-da-sac- or cliff in your career or business. Here are a few questions to get your started.

1. On your best day, what is most satisfying about your business or career?

2. On your worst day, is your answer to question 1 motivating and inspiring enough to give you comfort about the sacrifices that must be make to reach success?

3. To reach the highest levels of accomplishment in your current career or business, do you need to spend more time (i) getting better at your strengths or (ii) getting significantly better at your weak areas?

Let you answers to these three powerful questions help you determine whether the “challenges” you are (or will be) facing are simply a dip - or if you’re in a cul-da-sac or worse yet - on the cliff.

If you need help using your answers to make a determination, I invite you to sign up for an UpwardAction Introductory Coaching Session.

Expect the best!

Coach T.C.

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Help a Reporter, Get Free Press…It’s A Win-Win Deal!

Help a Reporter (HARO) is a new and free media service (that outgrew its Facebook group) that facilitates the introduction of subject matter experts and journalists.  You are an expert if you have something meaningful and interesting to share about your business, industry or subject matter.   

If you are on an entrepreneurial journey or developing a mature practice, becoming a source of information to a reporter is a great way to position yourself (and your business or firm) as an expert.   You are also providing a valuable service to reporters and the public-at-large when you provide unique quotes or insights about the matter being covered.

I am a big fan of HARO.   Peter Shankman, serial entrepreneur, and founder is careful to solicit and post interesting reporter queries in funny and engaging emails.  This is really an amazing free service where you’ll find great places to “pitch” your expertise while enjoying the adventures of “Shankman”.

Peter also has a great philosophy about why it’s important to him that this service is (and remains) free.   He feels that connecting people in this way spreads good karma and I couldn’t agree more! :-)  Peter says ~ if you feel you must donate for his services, to please do so to your local animal shelter or other similar group. 

HARO is pretty easy to use.  Simply register as a source by entering your name and email address.  Each day you’ll receive up to three emails (early morning, around lunchtime and early afternoon) with a list 15-30 queries of reporters seeking sources.  If you see a query that fits your background and expertise, you contact the reporter directly by email.

Being quoted as a subject matter expert is a excellent way to build your professional brand and raise your profile.  Once you are quoted, be sure to use your quote(s) on your Web site and other promotional materials, or link to your quote on your social medial profiles or blog (you are blogging, aren’t you?).   Referring to your ”name and words” in the media helps to raise your profile and let others know about your areas of expertise.

And, once you are quoted in the media, be sure to “tweet” about it.  You are on Twitter by now, right?   If you are not, you should be.   If you are, be sure to follow me at www.twitter.com/upwardaction

Expect the Best!

Coach T.C.

P.S. -  I have no financial or other interest in HARO- I’m simply a raving fan.  :-)

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