IN THIS ISSUE - Prepared Exclusively for YOU
Message from Marian: Who's Got Your Back? Events: "How Long Will You Keep People Waiting?" Featured Article: "How to Build Relationships That Won't Let You Fail" Marian Recommends:  Resources That Help You Share Your Message About Marian Please add "Marian[@]SparkActionNow[dot]com" to your whitelist or address book in your e-mail program, so that you have no trouble receiving future issues!	August 21, 2009  Volume 1, Issue 6 Published every twice monthly.  You're on our list because you signed up for one of our programs or updates to the blog.    To change your subscription, see the link at the end of the email. Sign Me Up for this eZine!

We recently returned from a roadtrip to Southern California to visit family.  Our nephew turned six years old and we also made our 2nd annual homage to my late father at Riverside National Cemetery. So the whole the family brought lawn chairs, snacks, flowers and simply hung out with pops, a retired military veteran who succumbed to a 12-year battle with cancer.

Five of my six siblings were there (I'm the eldest), plus two nieces and another nephew ranging from 9 months to 6 years of age.

During the trip we had a mini Operations Review (aka Family Discussion) on the state of affairs since my father's passing.  Like many others around the world, the recession touches close to home.  We needed all hands on deck to move our family from distress to success.
And as the eldest, old habits die hard…so I was still making a conscious (versus subconscious) effort to make room for other members to step up to their leadership power.

Having a roundtable discussion with seven core family members was a start.  It was time to have tough conversations and create a safe place where people can share their thoughts, receive feedback, and be accountable for generating stop-gap and sustainable solutions.
We naturally turn to family for personal crisis (ok, some of us do...).  But what about on a professional level?

Who do you turn to when you need someone to tell it like it is?  Who do rely upon to help remove your biggest constraint?  To give you direct feedback about your performance so you and your business can progress to the next level.  

In a nutshell, who's got your back?

Recently, I met Keith Ferrazzi (@keithferrazzi), author of "Who's Got Your Back" during his national bestselling book tour.  In today's ezine, I share my key takeaways from his talk and how you can begin building relationships that won't let you fail.
 

I invite your comments, suggestions and ideas on what you want me to share next.  Just send me an email or complete the contact form on the blog! And I just might feature you in the next eZine or blog.  Don't worry, I'll never release your email address.  But I'd love to share your Twitter ID or website.  So don't forget to include that!

Warmly,

P.S. Are we connected on Twitter yet?  When you tweet what we share in common (for example, you're a subscriber of this eZine), you'll catch my attention ;)  I'd love to engage you and learn more about what gets you excited about your business.  

ENGAGE WITH ME ONLINE:

http://twitter.com/mariansparks

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by MarianSparks!

Imagine having a handful of people who get you, who won't let you fail, who will change your life. That's what Keith Ferrazzi promotes in his latest book Who's Got Your Back.  Here's how you can begin the shift from independent and struggling to interdependent and successful.

Let's face it.  You've experienced success.  But the truth is that what got you here won't get you there. The world from your past has changed.  And today's technology has made it easier for you to connect, engage and collaborate with like-minded people at a fraction of the cost.  So the means are there.

What's stopping you is that you don't realize you need help.  You've been so self-sufficent and independent that it never occurred to you to raise your hand. Believe me, I've been there. When I was in corporate America it was so easy for me to reach over to people outside my team and get them to contribute time, energy, people and money to solve a critical business problem.  In fact, I excel and thrive at making stuff happen in large organizations. 

Yet, for some reason when it comes to my own personal journey to play on a larger stage and do well while doing good, I conveniently "forget" how great I am.  Does that ring true for you?

So take a moment and reflect on your results in the past 60 to 90 days.  Have you been grappling with the same issue?  Do you think that if you continue spending more time, doing what you've been doing that eventually you'll solve it?  Or is it possible that an infusion of fresh ideas, perspective and focused energy will break your standstill?

You don't have to go it alone.  And the secret that you know but have forgotten is that the most successful people in business have a "board of advisors" or mastermind group that won't let them fail.  Who are the people in your life you turn to for business advice?

Keith Ferrazzi identifies the 4 Core Mindsets critical for building "lifeline relationships": generosity, vulnerability, candor and accountability. You "know" through intuition and first hand experience what it's like to interact with someone who doesn't exhibit these mindsets when interacting with you.

What you probably didn't realize is that while you're waiting for someone else to BE those things, that perhaps there's an opportunity for YOU to BE that for others.  I refer to it as leading by example.  Have the courage to put yourself out there.  Start laying the foundation: DARE to CARE & SHARE.  The rewards outweights the fear that holds you back.  

There are people out there who want to help you.  They get tremendous value knowing that what YOU have created was in part due to something their said or did to help you along YOUR journey.  But they can't help, if you're not willing to open yourself up.  

How can you be your authentic self?  How can you give to others?  How can you engender trust to colleagues and clients?  In an era terrible customer service and distrust, people want to do business with people they know, like and trust.  Give them a reason to do business with YOU. 

The next time you meet a stranger, stop yourself from engaging in mindless and meaningless conversation about the weather or 'what do you do?'  Get to know the human being in front of you.  Try this series of questions the next time you meet a complete stranger:

• "What excites you?"  "What are you passionate about?"
• "Is that what you're doing now?"
• "Why aren't you doing what you're passionate about?"
• "What would help you get there faster?"

Get the point?  The questions are meant to instill a connection.  Because it's not about having shared passions with someone but rather sharing your passions with a stranger.  And when you do that, you begin to see that person as a human being with similar needs as you.

Test weaving these questions into your next conversation and observe the response you receive.  

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WANT TO SEE MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE? See Marian's Spark Action Now blog.

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One more thing…
I'd be grateful if you share this issue with a friend or colleague.  You see, I'm so happy to have you as an eZine reader, that I'd love to connect directly with more people just like you.  And since I want to keep you all to myself, I'll never share your email address with anyone including the people you refer to me!  You always have the power to unsubscribe at any time (and so will your referred friends!)

The resources below are select services and products that I use so I know they work. Please check them out.  Learn more about how they can benefit you as you design your business around your strengths and services.  I'm just an email or Tweet away for any follow on questions that you may have.

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One tool I simply can't live without is Roboform!  I have 250+ online accounts (yes, I counted) and it's challenging to manage and track all my usernames and passwords by myself. Sound familiar?  If you find yourself clicking the "forgot password" link on websites, then check out Roboform.  You can generate secure, "strong" passwords and auto-fill forms with a click of a mouse.  Download Roboform for free. 

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Marian Hodges MBA (aka MarianSparks!) is a MIT-trained MBA, business strategist, and success mentor. She works with business leaders and service-focused business owners seeking to achieve their optimum revenue and cost savings, but struggling with the best strategy to get things going and get things done.

A former educator, Fortune 50 executive and now entrepreneur, Marian combines her passion for making an impact and harnessing the Internet to build connections, collaborate and serve clients. Her philosophy: It’s Your livelihood. Your lifestyle. Your legacy. Experience it now!   

An American born and raised in the Philippines and Japan, Marian acquired a unique perspective for sparking change and making an impact. What gets her excited?  Exchanging ideas and collaborating on how to make an impact, build a legacy, while enjoying as many laughs as possible along the way! Because doing well while doing good in business is supposed to be fun!

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For a wealth of action strategies to jump start your success, browse Spark Action Now and sign up for blog updates by email.  You'll receive a complimentary subscription to my Spark Online Success eZine published twice a month.

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