What is Kerisma?

 About Keri Singer: Superstar Talent Wants to Speak with You

Finding Your Personal ”Kerisma”
Well, it’s a spin on my “charismatic” nature to attract others. My personable relations, geniune attitude to do good, professionalism, creativity and interest to keep on top of new trends that has helped me to be a leader.

People are always surprised how much I know and who I know, yet, I have a lot to learn. Everything from events, pop culture, business, marketing, fashion, music, sales, digital media and yes, football! I’ve always had an inquisitive nature and enjoy learning about the lives of others. If we could all take a step out of our daily lives and live as someone else, what would that life really be like? I would like to uncover those experiences, as well as have others provide the answers.

Some may say they are are in the business of SaaS (Software-as-a-Service). I like to say, I have the “Sass” to attract others whether for professional growth, building friendships, or discovering new opportunities. I hope others will also contribute here who have gained their own personal ”Sass”, confidence, or “Kerisma” in their lives to go after their goals and share their experiences, stories and what one has learned along the way.

People are Listening to What “Kerisays” I’ve always said my day is complete if I can bring a smile to someone’s face. I look forward to this blog to be a way to connect, enrich, educate and enlighten others of all ages in hopes to bring lots of smiles to everyone. - Keri Singer

Contact: kerisays@yahoo.com, kerisays@gmail.com

© 2008 – 2009 Kerisma http://kerisinger.wordpress.com is copy written by Keri Singer and is a Kerisays production. All Rights Reserved.

Dropping the Ball: Wanna Play Foursquare?

I’ve heard the talk about it for weeks and finally had to drop the ball to say something about Foursquare. Everyone says it’s the next big thing next to Twitter and Facebook. As technology evolves, so do the applications and the attitudes around them. Am I wrong to believe that there are some people that still have yet to share every detail of their lives on Twitter and appreciate when others write something more meaningful or informative, rather than what one has for breakfast everyday? Or, maybe there are still those that wish to keep their comments private and not promote it in Twitter-ville.

I can see where Foursquare can be a great new tool for marketers and an interesting combination of mobile, social media and creating brand ambassadors to engage users. Yet, there are still some of us that prefer our anonymity and don’t want the world to know where we are all the time even if it’s towards earning discounts, or being recognized as a VIP shopper. Marketers use loyalty cards as a way to provide rewards for repeat business, but the customers are not on a public display every time one makes a purchase. I could see Foursquare being a problem for those that don’t wish to jump in and pass the ball to others promoted on a public stage.

Do we really need to know how many times Jack Smith went to Trader Joe’s twice in one week to buy some groceries, picked up a BigMac sandwich at McDonald’s Monday and on Thursday a vanilla shake, and earned himself the honorable badge of Mayor for the Sports Authority down the street. Wow, he can connect with other people using Foursquare too that have frequent those same spots 10 times this week!

Obviously, this new type of tracking device is sure to be a hit with marketers. The company will use, or sell the data, as a better means to track customers with the right campaign message and offer rewards based on one’s interests and frequency of visits.

We already know the loyalty cards measure our purchases, cookies track our performance online, and now Foursquare is going to track every step. I’m not sure everyone will embrace this concept and it will be interesting to see how it takes off. Perhaps, we have come to a crossroad where technology and social media is becoming more a part of our lifestyle and it’s accepting to most. Yet, there are still those that don’t like the intrusion of their privacy, nor those that wish to hear of the daily activities of others updated all day on their Facebook page. I can hear that popular Police song “Every step you take, every move you make, I’ll be watching you,” now becoming more of a reality each day. I can also hear a lot of people saying no thanks.

Don’t get me wrong, I can see the potential of this platform, but I have a hunch that it will need some adaptations for more adopters to participate. Hmmm, I have my own idea called Hopscotch …coming soon!

You Go Girl! Harvard Celebrates Dynamic Women In Business

Women from across the country attended Harvard’s 19th annual Dynamic Women in Business conference which featured some of the brightest and talented women that have made strides in their professional careers. Sitting side-by-side with others attending the event were people about to graduate, new to a career, women seeking work, or individuals that wanted to hear from some powerful people in business. Both young and old came to learn and network with one another in hopes to secure that next job opportunity, make a new friend, or find a mentor to inspire one to reach for her goals. Top women executives from companies such as Staples, lululemon athletica, Keds (Stride Rite / Collective Brands), Coca- Cola, NBC Universal, Showtime, Time Warner Cable, Estee Lauder, Google, Highland Capital Partners, FedEx, Mavens & Mogels, Communispace, and many more came together in one place to share their experiences in different aspects of business.

Make Your Movement Possible

The event kicked off with Ann Simonds, President of General Mills Baking Products Division, where her comment, “there are learning points in your life and leading points in your life,” rang true to many women throughout different stages of their career development. We all have had transitions in our lives where we take a step back to improve upon our weaknesses, or took the necessary time to research for ourselves what would help us to move forward. Ann shared in her presentation a copy of a check from a few years back for $38.00 her mother contributed to help a women’s professional organization.  Today, Ann stood on the spotlight of the stage before hundreds of impressionable women, as her mother sat in the audience to cheer her daughter as a true leader in business. Not only was that a great story, but the conference was inspirational to many in the audience. It was nice to see women bonding together with a sense of empowerment as they listened to the personal stories of the executives on the panels who offered their solutions for facing the day-to-day business challenges to find success.

Turning Buzz to Biz

Whether you are pitching a product, trying to sell yourself to a prospective buyer/recruiter, or meet someone new, it’s all about creating that buzz, developing your network, and influencing others in hopes for one to see the value you offer. Check out the book Now Discover Your Strengths, by Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton. Many women recommended it as a good resource to help define your core strengths and how you can gain results in the workplace.

The various panels of women discussed areas in sales, marketing, entrepreneurship, retail, consulting, finance and more, offered examples to improve your business, your role, but also where all of us can look inside ourselves to put our best foot forward in many situations.

• Make sure to ask for what you want
• Listen
• Focus on the outcome
• Surround yourself with the best talent
• Don’t allow yourself to be put down
• Seek opportunities to prove your strategic direction
• Share the results: Show Don’t Tell
• Build an organization around a strategy
• What brand asset do you have?
• Identify the touch points and keep them engaging to influence the audience or your peers
• Improve the overall experience for the customer making it memorable
• Find a mentor to cheer you on when you are doing something well, and offer advice when you are doing something wrong

So get out there…..YOU GO GIRL!

What are some things that you live by to get ahead? Share your story below and let others know.

 

Each Day is A Blessing: Try Something New Today

Each day is a blessing to wake up, start over and learn something new. Take a different approach each day when reaching out to others, drive down that unbeaten path, take a chance and do something you would not normally do. Mix up your routine and you could be pleasantly surprised. It may not be easy at first, but take a chance because there is nothing to lose. You could potentially learn something about yourself, others, or gain a greater awareness of the world around you.

Remember how it felt when you opened up the Cracker Jack box digging around for that prize. Or, maybe it’s when you could not wait after all those licks to get to the center of the Tootsie roll pop.  Perhaps, it’s that feeling when you were a child, full of life with the desires to explore, imagine, or create a new masterpiece for your mom or dad. Take that energy and use it today to move full speed ahead to accomplishing your goals and uncovering a new world. Do what it takes to make you feel proud and successful no matter what obstacles stand in your way.

Just when you think things are not working and the world is on your shoulders, there is always a new opportunity on the horizon.  Each day is a blessing. Time and time again, I’ve heard from others and I admit to working towards pursuing something only to be led to disappointment. It happens to everyone. Yet, it’s through those experiences we have valuable life lessons to be learned that help us to persevere. One day is great, while the next can be very tough. Take each day in stride and remember it’s a blessing.

When you feel like the cards are stacked against you, over time with the will to succeed, your hard efforts, and a little encouragement from others can pay off in more ways than one. They could be little wins, or even a little angel arriving the next day to bless you with an opportunity to speak with someone new that inspires you to reach for more, or change your life entirely for the best.

I’ve had those experiences and look to each new day as a blessing from God to give me the strength to think positive, work hard to carry me through the tough times in hopes for a promising future. I admit, it can be a struggle at times, but one appreciates the sense of accomplishment when things finally come together.

Each day is a blessing, embrace life’s little surprises whether they’re good or bad, and you could be rewarded tremendously in the long-run.