Posts tagged business

Nobody’s watching your videos!

If you think your videos are being watched … You’re wrong!

I did some analysis on Video Performance on Facebook. Business Pages on Facebook provide a great deal of data on their Insights tab.

Below are the deeper insights of just one video post, viewed by over 250 people. However, I researched several videos from multiple Business Pages and the trend was the same.

Guess what…

The average time someone spends watching your video is between 5 and 8 seconds! You heard me right — SECONDS!

You lose close 50% of your audience a measly 3 seconds into your video!

Are you trying to get your videos below 3 minutes? Try harder! If you’re over 30 seconds, you’re too long!!!

This was very enlightening for me … is it enlightening for you?

In the comments, leave your thoughts and discussion on how we possibly deal with this short attention span trend.

Crosscutter Enterprises
www.crossctr.com

Never Forget

I didn’t post anything anything yesterday in remembrance if 911…and I’m ashamed. 🙁

One of my connections, Jake Bjorseth, had a profound post this morning about growing up in a world where terrorism is a norm. He was 17 months old when 911 occured.

See, as a 21-year veteran, I was deeply involved. I’ve seen the impact and lost friends to 911, the bombing of the USS Cole and Khobar Towers. Even more in Desert Storm I and II and the many wars fought since then.

I was stationed in Germany on 911. A Public Affairs officer from down the hall ran into our office and told us to get down to their office immediately. We walked in as the second plane hit the towers.

Once we realized it was real, the base–all bases across the world were mobilized. The United States was under attack on U.S. soil!

I was to fly to DC the next day, but all flights were grounded and I didnt fly out until the 21st.

I remember the patriotism felt across the nation and the support from the world.

Being someone deeply impacted and who painfully remembers the impact of 911, it is my responsibility to make sure you understand and never forget.

I’m sorry I let you down. Lest We Forget!

#success #incubator #business #coaching #consultants
Crosscutter Enterprises
www.crossctr.com

It’s time to smile

What’s in a smile? 🙁❓🙂

I never smiled!

In 1988, I entered the Air Force and spent the first 10 years of my 21 as a cop. 👮‍♂️

For about five years, I was unapproachable. There I would be, at an event, crossed arms, dark eyebrows, and a “Don’t you dare talk to me,” look on my face. I never smiled.

In fact, I had taken the Myers-Briggs Type Assessment several times and always came out as a strong Introvert.

I noticed that no one ever talked to me, but could see others that were always approached by others — the life of the party, so to speak.

I made a bold move…I started to smile.

The effect was almost immediate. Not only was I approachable, but now I test as a strong Extrovert.

Do you smile? Are you approachable? Try it…

www.crossctr.com

Are people wasting your time?

What do you do if a speaker goes over their allotted time? ⏲

How valuable is your time? What do you think about people that abuse it? What if they’re a speaker/presenter?

In my mind, one sign of a professional speaker is that they stick to their time window, even if that window changes at the last minute.

Those that can’t, in my mind, are unprofessional.

Last night, I attended a monthly meeting with a professional association. Every meeting has a keynote speaker and this one was no different. Normally, the speakers keep to their time — last night was different.

The meeting ends at 8 pm, which means the speaker should finish by 7:45 or so for questions and close out.

At 7:58, the speaker looked at his watch (was about halfway through his presentation), and said, “I’ll hurry up and finish up, since I’m out of time.” He finished and asked for questions at 8:30 pm!

For me, I lost interest in his subject at about 7:50 pm and I stopped listening altogether when he realized he was taking too long and refused to care. The way I look at it, he felt his material was more important than the time of the 60 or so people in the audience.

What are your thoughts?

Crosscutter Enterprises
www.crossctr.com

Distracted Much?

🤦‍♂️ Do you get easily distracted from work? 🐶🐱

Our new kitten likes someone to be in the room when it eats. Otherwise, it wants to be wherever you are playing. It’ll get back to the food, eventually, but by that time, the Cleaning Service (aka dogs) will have taken care of the issue.

So, I locked our kitten in the bathroom with me as I got ready for the day. However, distractions loom around every corner for this little kitten. Not sure if the dog wants to play with the cat, be with me, or clean up the leftovers, but both of us became distracted!

Are you easily distracted from the task at hand?

What distracts you? Phone calls? Text messages? Emails? The kitten walking on your keyboard? 🐈

www.crossctr.com

Steps to Writing & Publishing a Book

Interested in writing & publishing a book? Don’t know where or how to get started?

Successfully writing & publishing is much like starting a new business. The steps are essentially the same and having a plan & a coach really helps.

Many people think that publishing is expensive and difficult, but you can publish for very little money. It does require a lot if work to do it right. Here are my suggested 13 high-level steps to get you there:

1. Define your Purpose for writing.
2. Assess if you are ready to write & what you can write about.
3. Define the Audience.
4. Determine how you plan on writing your book (ways to get it written).
5. Ideation, research, brainstorming, and testing.
6. Outline.
7. Draft – edit – draft – edit – draft – edit – final draft.
8. Publishing determinations.
9. Cover design (and illustrations if required).
10. Draft reviewers and Foreword.
11. Pre-release marketing.
12. Format, Publish, and Release.
13. Post-release marketing.

If you are interested in writing & would like help, let me know.
Crosscutter Enterprises

Forbes Expert Panel — Diversity

Seven Ways Leaders Can Encourage Diversity In The Workplace

❓ How is Diversity best defined?

❓ What are the benefits?

For a business to be able to have a diverse workplace, companies must address these questions and more.

I’m proud to be featured again on Forbes through the Forbes Coaches Council! Twice in one week — I must be doing something right?!?

I provided the sixth method: Be Constant And Consistent With Education!

Diversity—and inclusion, because you can have a diverse work center and not include everyone—starts with solid, constant and consistent education. This is not one training class and an annual refresher online. This is purposeful diversity and inclusion leadership growth—it should start before the individual becomes a leader and they should grow and build over time. – John Knotts, Crosscutter Enterprises

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2019/06/28/seven-ways-leaders-can-encourage-diversity-in-the-workplace/#65c4d8f13d59

Reset Your Funk!

Ever have one of those days where you feel in a funk and, regardless of what you’ve got done, you feel like you haven’t accomplished anything?

You don’t want to carry that feeling and funk into tomorrow.

How you you hit the reset button and start out a new day with a positive outlook on the rest of the week?

You Are Not Alone!

Being an entrepreneur can feel like this.

You’re stepping from the light, into a very dark room.

It also can be the complete opposite…its like you just walked through the gates of a circus and you’re being hit from all directions–most just want to take your money.

This is why having an experienced and knowledgeable business coach and consultant is extremely helpful.

Crosscutter Enterprises is your personal and professional business coach and consultant with 30 years’ experience. Your success is my business.

I guide you in the dark, protect you from the circus, and handle the tough stuff!

You can’t afford not to have a coach! Email me today at John.Knotts@crossctr.com and let’s discuss your business success!

Planning, Communication, Marketing, Leadership, Management, Improvement, Training, and Facilitation.

Leadership Development

Leadership is not easy! True leadership that is! Anyone can be put into a leadership position, but few are good leaders.

Although there are natural leaders that are born and do great without effort, most must train and develop leadership muscles because it is not a natural talent or skill.

Sending someone to a leadership conference once a year is not developing leaders…you’re wasting money. Invest in your leaders with a complete leadership development program that is consistent, tailored and focused.

Organizational Myopia, in siloed organizations, starts with leaders that do not know what to look for or how to solve it. Step one is to read the book!

How’s your leadership development program?