Posts Tagged ‘michael Angelo Caruso’

Why Charlie Sheen is smarter than you

Friday, April 15th, 2011
Charlie Sheen

"Sheenius"

The Charlie Sheen Freak Show may not have ended, yet, but many people have already drawn some conclusions.  At this point, for example, most people consider him to be an idiot.

[Facebookers, click "View Original Post" to read this entire article.]

Which is why it ‘s probably painful to discover that Charlie Sheen is smarter than you.

Charlie Sheen is smarter than you–and me–because he was able to teach us something. In fact, this “Sheenius” has been a terrific source of advice.  Oh, one might argue that Charlie doesn’t “teach” us as much as he “reminds,” but let’s not split hairs.

Plato said that we never really learn anything; we are merely reminded of things we already know.

This may be the first blog post to mention both Charlie Sheen and Plato.  You’re welcome.

Here’s a partial list of the lessons learned from Charlie Sheen:

Be happy where you are. The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence.

Being just a “Good Time Charlie” is not much of a career. Or lifestyle.  Or life.

Treat everyone–especially women–with respect. Even if you can still live with yourself, no one else will be able to live with you.

Behavior should be a reflection of your priorities. Few things are more important than being a responsible father.

“Do everything in moderation,” as my mom used to say.

What happens on the Internet stays on the Internet. If you must act like a clown, make sure it’s not being recorded.  Duh.

It doesn’t pay to lie. (Remember Sheen’s emergency trip to the hospital for his “hernia?”)

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Charlie had the best paying job on television.  Now he has several smaller opportunities to consider.

Just because one is high-paid, doesn’t mean one is talented.

It’s usually not a good idea to have a spat with your boss. It’s even less advisable to make the spat public.

Finally, it’s not always obvious when someone learns a lesson. Sometimes, behavior modification takes a little while to kick in.  Let’s hope this happens before Mr. Sheen really hurts himself or someone else.

-Michael Angelo Caruso, Royal Oak, Michigan

www.MichaelAngeloCaruso.com

Smart phones, but no smart people?

Thursday, April 14th, 2011

Maxwell Smart's shoe phoneYears ago,  a TV show called Get Smart, featured a secret agent named Maxwell Smart, who used his shoe to make telephone calls.  He was a Smart person using a dumb phone.

Today, it may be the opposite.   We now have smart phones, smart houses, smart cars and even smart water.

But on any given day, I fear we have fewer and fewer smart people.


If we’re so smart, why do we act so dumb?

We are the most advanced and educated society in the history of the world, yet, human beings continue to act like they don’t have brains.

For example, there’s a law against texting while driving in most places, yet many drivers tempt fate.  Each year, thousands of automobile drivers fall asleep at the wheel because they weren’t smart enough to pull off the road.

Research shows it’s a pretty good idea to finish college, yet only about 25% of us do.

Being smart is not just about being “book smart.”  Sometimes the application is simply common sense.

The number one killer in our society is heart disease, a condition that is largely preventable by controlling your weight and getting a moderate amount of exercise.

Colon cancer is a preventable disease that is 90% curable when detected early, yet thousands die from it every year.

We seem to take major life decisions seriously, but around 50% of first marriages end in divorce, according to Jennifer Baker of the Forest Institute of Professional Psychology in Springfield, Missouri.  The divorce rate is even higher for second marriages.


Even smart people have bad judgement

Dan Ariely writes about this phenomenon in his terrific book, Predictably Irrational.  He makes the point that we sometimes act stupid because we are human.  Bad judgment, emotions, trends, and even misinformation can make us seem stupid.  Been there, Homer Simpson’d that.

Apparently, being smart won’t keep us from occasionally acting dumb.  Text that into your smart phone.

What do you think?  If people basically smart why do we act so dumb?

Referral marketing — the easiest way to sell

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011
Jeffrey Gitomer

Jeffrey Gitomer

Sales are the lifeblood of every organization, right?

Even non-profit businesses and Rotary clubs must generate revenue in order to survive.

And yet, it seems to be getting harder and harder to sell.  The government instituted a “Do Not Call” list in 2008.  Savvy prospects are often one step ahead of the salesperson.  Sales expert Jeffrey Gitomer is right when he says, “People don’t like to be sold to.”

Lisa Mininni

Lisa Mininni

That’s why I got involved with referral marketing a while back.  This is positively the easiest way to generate new business because you get your strongest advocates to help you sell.

They’ll gladly do this because you will provide valuable referrals for them.

Anyway, ION Strategic Partners is hosting an event called This Is Your Time–Referrals, Revenue & Reward! I’m honored that they’ve asked me to speak.

Tim Green

Tim Green

They’ve also asked two of the best speakers in Michigan, Tim Green and Lisa Mininni, to share their great strategies for growing your business.

This referral selling concept is quite a bit more involved than just exchanging business cards.

But I promise that Tim, Lisa, and I will make sure you don’t leave our program without a brand new, effective skill set–a proven referral marketing system to get more customers.

Just look at what we have planed for you:

-  Teach your best customers and vendors to bring you customers
Hear from three world-class speakers for the price of one
-  Learn a four-step system to kick your referral marketing into overdrive
Discover the VCP Process™ & how it create referrals from thin air
-  Get out of your own way when closing a sale
4 key ways to achieve a 98% conversion rate
-  Keep your customer pipeline filled even during slow times
Create massive exposure for your business
-  Never worry about cash flow or operating income again
Receive more qualified referrals
-  Get cool ideas for leveraging your online and offline networks
Work a room as if you own it
-  ION’s proven method for regional networking

Seating is limited, so register today.  Bring/send your entire sales team.  If you don’t have a sales team, send your leadership team.  Anyone can do referral marketing, if they have the right training.  We’ll show you how to make every employee at your company a revenue center!

Details for This Is Your Time–Referrals, Revenue & Reward!

When: Friday, May 6, 2011, 8am – 5pm (nice lunch included!)
Where: MSU Management Ed. Center, 811 W. Square Lake Rd. in Troy
Investment: Only $299* per person; group discounts available

ION members are admitted free.  *Use promotion code 100 and get $100 off your tuition–another reward for reading my blog once in a while.     :-)

Register and get more info at http://bit.ly/ThisIsYourTime or call (313)530-8117 with questions.

You will be completely happy with this program or we will make things right with you.

Simply put, this one-day conference is a game changer and I’m excited for you!  See you May 6!

Sincerely,
Michael Angelo Caruso, Communication Consultant, Sales trainer          248-224-9667

P.S.  Bring lots of business cards to this event.  We’re going to help you benefit from these new referral techniques in real time!

www.MichaelAngeloCaruso.com 432S. Washington, #1105   Royal Oak, MI  48067
/Sales training    /Leadership Development    /Personal Development      /Team Building

“Multi-tasking” is a misnomer

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011

Texting while driving Yep, multi-tasking is a misnomer.

Cognitive scientists have proven that we never truly multi-task.  Instead, we change tasks very quickly.  Unfortunately, information between each change gets dropped, overlooked or under-valued.

This is a person cannot safely drive and text at the same time.  On a more subtle level, task switching also explains a person cannot safely drive and talk to the person in the passenger seat.


Being busy is not the same as being productive

The relationship between productivity and time is not a linear function.  Many people think that multi-tasking guarantees that we get more done, but this time management model is old school.

During the Industrial Revolution over 100 years ago, efficiency experts claimed that if you can make 10 widgets in an hour, you can make 100 in 10 hours.

We now know that this formula doesn’t always work because over time, other factors come into play.  For example, a ten hour shift might cause you to become tired and make mistakes, which would introduce a quality control problem.


Be more productive–take a break

As we get tired, we lose the ability to discriminate and discern. Creativity works best when we have there is a balance between work and rest.

That’s why so many people claim they get there best ideas while they are in the shower or driving home–two other things you shouldn’t do at the same time

3 tricks for repurposing content

Sunday, April 10th, 2011

I generate a ton of content!

Michael Angelo Caruso's info productsYou may know that I produce a bi-monthly newsletter, post three blogs a week, and maintain multiple accounts on Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter.

I also conduct monthly teleseminars, post tons of video on my YouTube and Vimeo channels and have created over 75 information products.

People often ask me how I get it all done.  Sometimes I wonder, too!


My favorite magic trick

One of my “tricks” involves repurposing content.  It’s a useful technique for anyone who works as a leader or supervisor, salesperson, customer service rep or whatever.

When you repurpose your great content, your information becomes accessible to more people in more convenient ways.  When your relevant content shows up in multiple places, YOU become more familiar, and people start thinking of you as an industry expert.  Pretty cool!

Do you ever give presentations?  Here are three easy ways to make your talk available in different modalities:

1) Record your live presentation with a digital recorder like those sold at Radio Shack. Then, import the sound file to a free audio editing program such as “Audacity” and burn audio CDs to giveaway or sell.

2) Record a three-minute highlight of your speech with a Flip video camera and post the clip on YouTube. Be sure to display your Web site on the “bottom third” of the screen to drive traffic to your Web site.

3) Publish an e-book version of your speech. Use voice recognition software to create a transcript or keystroke the speech into a Word doc (if you use a PC) and convert the document into a .pdf.

Oh, and congratulations! When you do #3, you’ll officially be a published author!


Churn out your own info products

For dozens of more tips on this subject and to generate a passive revenue stream for yourself, listen to my 60-minute audio CD, How to Create Info Products.  It comes with a 30-page e-book, too!

Thanks for your interest in self-improvement.  Now go repurpose some of your great content!

-Michael Angelo Caruso, Royal Oak, Michigan

Return on involvement

Wednesday, April 6th, 2011

Most people think of ROI as “return-on-investment,” but thanks to my friend Jerry Van Rossum, I now think of ROI as “return-on-involvement.”

In other words, you get what you give.

This is true for many things in life including love, service clubs such as Rotary and the Optimists, and Facebook activity, too.

Even traditional relationships such as friendships and marriages blossom with a return-on-involvement arrangement.

Loads of research suggests that the best parents make sure to spend quality time with their children.  They know the importance of not being “absent” guardians.

Good salespeople are aware that it’s critical to be involved with the customers concerns and issues rather than make a habit of “drive-by” visits.


A story explains it best

There’s an old chestnut about a window salesman who had finally been asked to leave his low-rent territory to call on the owner of the biggest mansion in town.

The salesman was practically giddy as he pulled into the mansion’s circular drive.  This was going to be the biggest sale of his career!  Why the commission from this sale would be more money than he made the entire first half of the year!

The seller was so focused on his return-on-investment–how much he would be compensated for the time he spent selling his services, that he forgot to focus on return-on-involvement–that if he simply engaged the prospect and gave him the right kind of attention, things would work out for both parties.

It’s okay to pursue an ROI, as long as you don’t forget to be involved.

Resume tip–your resume doesn’t matter

Sunday, March 6th, 2011

Readers always write…

Hi, Michael-

I’ve recently had to update my resume so I can upgrade my job.  I consider myself a good writer, but it’s been quite a challenge getting this project done.  I’m still not happy with my resume and wondering if you have any tips for me.  I’ve attached a copy to this e-mail message.  Thank you!

Sara in Bloomington, Illinois

Hi, Sara-

A lot of the best jobs are filled without using the resume process.  The best way to get a good job is through networking, which allows you to become recommended or “pre-approved” by a trusted third-party.  More info on how to do this in a future post.

So now that I’ve told you that a resume doesn’t matter, let me explain how you can make yours better…

Your resume looks very good, Sara!  I’m returning it to you with a few minor suggestions for improved grammar and syntax.  I am also listing my advice on how to “punch up” a resume.

Tips:

-  All the experts recommend a one-page resume
-  Play down past jobs (use one or two lines max for each)
-  Use present tense for present situation, e.g. “demonstrated” should be “demonstrates”
-  Use parallel construction for bullet points; begin each bullet with an active verb

Bonus ideas

Here are a couple of special “Michael techniques:”

/Recycle the exact language from the job posting.

/That way, your resume is more likely to make you look like the perfect fit.

/The resume is a kind of meaningless tradition.  It’s far better to secure the job first and then submit the resume as a required formality.

/So, how does one get the job before submitting the resume?  Use online research tools such as Linkedin and Google to learn more about the company.   Of course, you should visit the company’s Web site, but learn even more about the specific people involved such as:

-  Who will be interviewing you?
-  Who will you be working with?
-  Who will be your boss?
-  Who is your potential boss’s boss?
-  What can be learned from their social media or YouTube activities?

Once you have the names of these individuals, search them online to discover anything you can, such as:

-  Where they live?
-  What church do they attend?
-  Do they blog?
-  What they’ve presented on (presentation pdfs often come up in this type of search)

The idea is to get into the same orbit of one or more of these people so they can get to know you and possibly champion your cause.

Caveat:  Don’t be aggressive or even assertive when doing this.  A sincere compliment when friending someone on Facebook will usually do the trick.  You might contact the person to offer insightful research on one of their
favorite topics.  Don’t necessarily make it known that you are applying for a job.

When you show interest in others, others show interest in you.     -Michael Angelo Caruso, American author and speaker, (1958-present –ha!)

Then, when the moment is right, say something like, “Oh, by the way, the reason for my interest in xxxxx is that I’m thinking of applying for the xxxxx position.”

You’re on your way to a some useful information, an endorsement, a champion, and hopefully, a new job!

Good luck!

Michael Angelo Caruso, Royal Oak, Michigan

Good deeds have a life of their own

Sunday, February 27th, 2011

RYLA with Michael Angelo CarusoIt’s happened again.

I made time for community involvement a while back and it’s turned into something big.  Isn’t that how good deeds are supposed to work?

Way back in November, I dedicated a weekend to teaching about 100 area high school students leadership skills.  It was a tough gig, by most standards.  Over 13 hours of class time, not including prep.

The event was sponsored by Rotary District 6400 in southeastern, Michigan.  They hold this Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) weekend every year and its director, Dr. Jim Karolyi, does a fantastic job putting it together.

Speaking to 100 young people is not exactly my specialty, but I tried to have fun with it.  Well, something just happened that showed me the gig was well worth the effort.

Ron Warren, one of the young people attending the event, was given an award by the Rotary Club of Lincoln Park, Michigan and I just read got to read about it.  The News-Herald, the local newspaper, interviewed Ron and I’ll be darned if the young man didn’t mention my name.  A lot.

Read the interview for yourself and see if it doesn’t make you smile.

I’m grateful for the shoutout, Ron.  Reading about your award reminds me of how impressed I was with the quality of students at RYLA 2010.  Thanks for helping make community involvement so rewarding, Mr. Warren.

So, it’s official; I’m a hero!

And it’s addicting.  Dr. Karolyi has asked me to speak again at his 2011 event.

5 reasons to blog–even if nobody reads it

Friday, February 25th, 2011

Michael Angelo Caruso blogging Internet marketingMost people haven’t figured out blogging, yet. That’s because blogging, that is writing, is a discipline like playing the trumpet or flying an airplane.  Or juggling.  It takes time and effort to make it worthwhile.  It also helps to be motivated, which usually happens when one is a little knowledgeable about the discipline.

Here are 5 reasons to blog, even if nobody reads it, followed by a chance for you to learn more from a soccer mom I interviewed who now gets paid to blog for other people.

1.  Search perks. Internet search engines love fresh content.  Since blogs, especially WordPress blogs, are easily updated your company is more likely to be found even if you create a blog post once per week.   Blogs are the new Web sites.

2.  Perpetual value. Time and again, I am contacted by people who tell me they read an old blog post and liked what I had to say.  Some of these folks turn into customers.  Your blog content keeps working for you year after year!

3.  Drip marketing. Periodic blog posts are a great way to keep in touch.  People will never forget about you because they are always being reminded.  Rig your social media sites to automatically post blog articles.

4.  Virtual salesperson. SAP advertises training services in a sidebar on its blog.  Wegmans grocery store blogs about recipes that use their food products.

5.  Massive public relations reach. If your blog is consistently good, you may get picked up by an aggregation service.  When this happens, your lil’ ol’ blog could be read by hundreds of thousands of people!

________

Paula Parisot

Soccer mom and paid blogger, Paula Parisot

A while back, I interviewed Paula Parisot, a soccer mom who now gets paid for blogging.  A non-techie by her own admission, Paula talks about how she does it and shares valuable tips on how you can get started doing the same.  That is, unless you can’t use the money.  Learn more Blogging for Profit by listening to this fun CD.

It was fun interviewing Paula.  She takes a “real-world” approach to things and I think you’ll like her!

-Michael Angelo Caruso

Royal Oak, Michigan

Facebook is not Internet marketing

Sunday, February 20th, 2011

Michael Angelo Caruso Internet marketing facebook, linked, twitter, social mediaSo you’re spending hours on Facebook (FB) building a “brand” so you can earn “extra revenue” that will allow you to “retire.”

Let’s be serious.

If you’re marketing on Facebook but not on Twitter (TW), you’re wasting your time.  Why?  Because the Internet works in the aggregate, that’s why.

A healthy Facebook following means little compared to a healthy following on the Big Three social media platforms–FB, TW, and Linkedin (LI), with a YouTube presence added to the mix.

Each of these platforms offers something special to the branding process, more colors, if you will.  You wouldn’t fill your wardrobe with only navy blue shirts and pants, would you?

Twitter, for example, is more important than Facebook and Linkedin combined, for example, because search engines such as Google crawl individual tweets.  This is extremely important to driving traffic to your Web site!

Essentially, we’re talking about doing things that drive traffic to your Web site and money to your bank account.  This is done by systematically developing your brand using important, albeit inexpensive web online platforms, so beware of “social media experts”  who only want to help you with Facebook because “that’s all you need.”

Here are two training options that I offer clients–

Package #1:  Substantial Social Media Platform within 90 days

Facebook is the New White Pages

Facebook tutuorialSocial media can help your biz when you use it as a system; how FB, LI and TW are alike and different; growing your lists; how to protect your name online; valuable photo tips; the best ways to draw people in; add 100 qualified friends in a flash; arrange for your FB posts to go to Twitter at the same time; use the “Notes” tab to provide more content; use Michael’s proven strategies for micro-blogging; improve dialog with your FB connections; answers to your questions, unlimited e-mail access to Michael for 90 days

Linkedin is the New Yellow Pages

How to maximize cyber-introductions; LI’s best (hidden) feature; beef up your presence on Linkedin by adding 75 qualified connections within 30 days; arrange five more key Recommendations on Linkedin; clever ways to re-purpose those testimonials; the power of LI groups; how to use LI polls to test-market ideas; answers to your questions, unlimited e-mail access to Michael for 90 days

Twitter, Video Marketing and How They Work Together

Using Twitter as “defensive marketing;” connect your social media platforms; employ the awesome power of video marketing; why Twitter is more important than FB and LI combined; establish a Twitter presence right away by adding 100 additional connections; improve your Twitter page background and readability; integrate your social media marketing with your regular distribution list; answers to your questions, unlimited e-mail access to Michael for 90 days

You’ll receive an occasional easy “homework” assignment from me to ensure gradual progress and success.

Bonuses

Package #1 includes all the above content, plus . . .

-  Four of my audio CDs on this subject ($99 value)

-  I’ll spend time with you to explain things

-  Unlimited e-mails with Michael for 90 days

Investment for Package #1

$ 975.00 if I teach you do it;   $ 1,750.00 if I help you do it;    $2,500 if I do it all; (designed to pay for itself in 90 days)

As with all of my products and services, you will get much more than you pay for.

Package #2:  Comprehensive Internet Marketing Campaign

Including, Social Media Platform within 90 days, video marketing, establish an e-newsletter and a blog

-  All of the content in consulting Package #1, plus . . .

Social Media strategies redux

-  Create one or two videos for YouTube

-  Set up Twitter to automatically post to Facebook

-  Set up your blog to automatically post to Facebook

-  Show how to re-purpose content on Facebook

-  Arrange five more key Recommendations on Linkedin

-  Integrate your social media marketing with your regular distribution list

E-mail marketing tutorial

- Strengthen your distribution list

- Get best practices for sending bulk e-mail

- Create the perfect e-mail

- Publish an e-newsletter, quickly and easily

- Improve deliverability, open rate, read rate of your bulk e-mails

- Improve your Click-Thru-Rate (CTR)

- Avoid spam filters

Web site tips and efficiency tricks

- Site evaluation and suggestions for easy changes that yield big results

- Re-identify your most important keywords

- Recommend a new vendor, if necessary

- Use your Web site to collect e-mail addresses

Video marketing thrust

- Explain the concept and Michael’s easy, non-technical methodology

- Create one or two videos for YouTube

- Upload videos to Vimeo, Facebook

- Send video links in e-mails and e-newsletters

Blogging power

- Blogs are better than Web sites; post twice a week

- How to never run out of content

- Set up your blog to automatically post to Facebook

- Show how to re-purpose content through article marketing

- Use blog to establish external links (Google LOVES external links)

Bonuses

Package #2 includes all of the above, plus . . .

-  Four of my audio CDs on this subject ($99 value)

-  I’ll spend time with you to explain things

-  Unlimited e-mails with Michael for 180 days

Triple Your Income, 6 CDs on how to get paid for speaking, writing, and consulting ($250 value)

-  I will comp you to as many of my speaking events as I can (priceless)

Investment for Package #2

$2,900 if I teach you do it;  $3,500 if I help you do it;  $4,900 if I do it all; (designed to pay for itself in 180 days)

As with all of my products and services, you will get much more than you pay for.

Testimonials

Dr. steven ringler“Michael Angelo Caruso helped improve my business’s Internet presence in a very short time.   I highly recommend him for your online marketing needs.  This guy really delivers!”       -Dr. Steven Ringler, Plastic Surgeon, Grand Rapids, Michigan, www.stevenringlermd.com

“Michael Angelo Caruso is a wonderful teacher!  He is currently working with me to build my business through Internet marketing.  He’s also a patient man; I’ve needed my hand held on more than one occasion.  Along with his integrity comes humor.”   –Joni Johnson, Co-owner, www.instafirmbodywrap.com, Troy, Michigan


Summary

Michael Angelo Caruso internet marketing So, however you decide to handle social media marketing, be sure to be involved with
The Big Three and not just Facebook.

If you’d like my help, choose from one of the above two training options and let me know what you decide. Call me right away and I will personally congratulate you before we set up our first official call.

Take your company or organization to new heights using my proven techniques for systematic, online branding by using inexpensive social media instead of expensive advertising campaigns!

What do you think?

-Michael Angelo Caruso, Royal Oak, Michigan  248-224-9667